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U.S. House · Nebraska's 3rd District

The Nebraska Panhandle and most of rural Nebraska, from Scottsbluff and North Platte east to Grand Island and Norfolk

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Adrian Smith, projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
Adrian Smith174,10171%
Becky Stille48,93820%
Mark Cohen8,0833.3%
David Else7,1092.9%
Macey Budke6,8512.8%

About 99% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

  • Incumbent Adrian Smith (R) defeated David Huebner in the Republican primary. Becky Lynn Stille was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index rated the district R+27 based on presidential voting patterns.[1]

On the November 3 ballot · 5 candidates

Adrian SmithRINCUMBENTPROJECTED WINNERU.S. Representative (since 2007)Full profile →Becky Lynn StilleDFull profile →David J. ElseLegal Marijuana NowFull profile →Macey BudkeNebraska Working People PartyFull profile →Mark CohenNonpartisanFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

  • Adrian Smith
    Recorded votes[42][43][44]

    Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15). Voted yes on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36, 2017-10-03), which would have banned most abortions after 20 weeks.

  • Becky Lynn Stille
    Supports[5]

    Supports a woman's right to make her own reproductive healthcare decisions with her doctor.

  • David J. Else
    —
  • Macey Budke
    —
  • Mark Cohen
    —

Stricter gun laws

  • Adrian Smith
    Recorded votes[37][38][39][40]

    Voted no on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27), which would have required background checks on most private gun sales. Voted no on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29), which would have banned the sale of many semiautomatic assault weapons. Voted no on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24), which expanded background checks for buyers under 21 and funded state red-flag programs. Voted yes on Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38, 2017-12-06), which would have required states to honor other states' concealed-carry permits.

  • Becky Lynn Stille
    —
  • David J. Else
    —
  • Macey Budke
    —
  • Mark Cohen
    —

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Adrian Smith
    Recorded votes[20][21][22][23][24][25][26]

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted yes on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11). Voted no on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04; 2021-03-18).

  • Becky Lynn Stille
    —
  • David J. Else
    In their own words[7]
    “On immigration, I would like to make it easier for immigrants to get a work visa, then a pathway to U.S. citizenship if they are not criminals and are hardworking people.”

    In the Nebraska Examiner's 2026 voter guide

  • Macey Budke
    —
  • Mark Cohen
    —

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Adrian Smith
    Recorded votes[21][22][23][33][32]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03; 2017-12-20), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent. Voted no on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.

  • Becky Lynn Stille
    —
  • David J. Else
    —
  • Macey Budke
    —
  • Mark Cohen
    In their own words[10]
    “I won't sit quietly while those who should represent us destroy agriculture and cut rural healthcare to give tax cuts to billionaires.”

    In a November 2025 campaign statement, per Nebraska Examiner

Expand public health coverage

  • Adrian Smith
    Recorded votes[21][22][23][28][29][30]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted no on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08), which extended enhanced ACA premium subsidies. Voted no on Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590, 2010-03-21). Voted yes on American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628, 2017-05-04), which would have capped federal Medicaid funding and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.

  • Becky Lynn Stille
    Supports[6]

    In an October 2026 interview, opposed the recent Medicaid cuts, said the funding should be restored, and described herself as a proponent of a universal healthcare system.

  • David J. Else
    Supports[7]

    In the Nebraska Examiner's 2026 voter guide, said he ran for Congress in 2022 to protect ACA health insurance, promised to fight for health care insurance for all, and wants to add dental insurance to the ACA.

  • Macey Budke
    In their own words[8]
    “Rural communities deserve affordable, accessible healthcare close to home.”

    In her 2026 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey

  • Mark Cohen
    —

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Adrian Smith
    Recorded votes[21][22][23][31][32]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits. Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.

  • Becky Lynn Stille
    —
  • David J. Else
    —
  • Macey Budke
    —
  • Mark Cohen
    —

Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)

  • Adrian Smith
    Supports[4]

    Led introduction of legislation to expand a federal scholarship tax credit enacted as part of 2025 tax legislation.

  • Becky Lynn Stille
    —
  • David J. Else
    —
  • Macey Budke
    —
  • Mark Cohen
    —

Raise the minimum wage

  • Adrian Smith
    Recorded votes[41]

    Voted no on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).

  • Becky Lynn Stille
    —
  • David J. Else
    —
  • Macey Budke
    —
  • Mark Cohen
    —

Broad tariffs on imported goods

  • Adrian Smith
    Recorded votes[36]

    Voted no on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.

  • Becky Lynn Stille
    Opposes[6]

    In an October 2026 interview, said tariffs are not the way to return manufacturing and have raised prices for everyday items.

  • David J. Else
    Opposes[7]

    In the Nebraska Examiner's 2026 voter guide, said President Trump's trade wars have raised inflation and lowered grain prices for farmers.

  • Macey Budke
    In their own words[9]
    “A producer can do everything right and still get caught between tariff retaliation, shifting foreign demand, input cost pressure, and federal decisions made far away from the operation carrying the risk.”

    On her campaign website's agriculture plan

  • Mark Cohen
    Opposes[11]

    On his campaign website's issues page, calls the administration's tariffs ill-conceived and says they are hurting farmers, ranchers, and related industries.

Universal, publicly funded child care

  • Adrian Smith
    Recorded votes[31]

    Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.

  • Becky Lynn Stille
    —
  • David J. Else
    —
  • Macey Budke
    —
  • Mark Cohen
    —

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

  • Adrian Smith
    Recorded votes[27]

    Voted yes on SAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).

  • Becky Lynn Stille
    —
  • David J. Else
    —
  • Macey Budke
    —
  • Mark Cohen
    —

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

  • Adrian Smith
    Recorded votes[34][35]

    Voted no on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization. Voted no on War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.

  • Becky Lynn Stille
    —
  • David J. Else
    In their own words[7]
    “I think Congress needs to grow a spine and tell Trump “no” on a lot of things.”

    In the Nebraska Examiner's 2026 voter guide

  • Macey Budke
    —
  • Mark Cohen
    —

Research notes & limits

No Ballotpedia profile page exists for David J. Else and no campaign website or Candidate Connection survey was found for him. Budke's site and survey, and Cohen's campaign website, were reviewed. Stille's Ballotpedia profile has no separate biography section beyond her campaign-website statements. Else, and no campaign website was found for him, Budke, or Cohen; biographies for Budke and Cohen rely on their Ballotpedia Candidate Connection surveys and news reports. Stille's Ballotpedia profile has no separate biography section; her biography relies on a local news report that quotes her campaign website. Sources differ on Macey Budke's ballot designation (nonpartisan write-in versus Nebraska Working People Party).

Sources · 67

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Adrian Smith (Nebraska) · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  3. 3.Smith, Moran Lead Letter Urging Admin to Expand Markets for America's Ranchers · Office of Rep. Adrian Smith · 2026-09-02 Official record
  4. 4.Smith Leads Bicameral Effort to Expand Educational Opportunities · Office of Rep. Adrian Smith · 2026-09-17 Official record
  5. 5.Becky Lynn Stille's 2026 campaign website, quoted verbatim · Becky Lynn Stille 2026 campaign website (via Ballotpedia) · 2026-04-29 Candidate's own words
  6. 6.3rd Congressional District voter guide: Meet the Nebraskans running · Nebraska Public Media News report
  7. 7.2026 primary voter guide: U.S. House, District 3 · Nebraska Examiner News report
  8. 8.Macey Budke, Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey (2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  9. 9.Plans · Budke for Congress Candidate's own words
  10. 10.Mark Cohen runs nonpartisan bid for U.S. House in Nebraska's 3rd District · Nebraska Examiner News report
  11. 11.Issues - Mark for Nebraska · Mark for Nebraska Candidate's own words
  12. 12.Mark Cohen, Independent Candidate for Congress in NE-03 · Mark for Nebraska Candidate's own words
  13. 13.Adrian Smith (Nebraska) · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  14. 14.About · Office of Rep. Adrian Smith Official record
  15. 15.Nonpartisan Cohen submits signatures seeking Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District ballot · WOWT / Nebraska Examiner · 2026-07-31 News report
  16. 16.Nebraska 3rd District U.S. House election results 2026 · NBC News News report
  17. 17.H.R. 7296, the SAVE America Act (SAVE America Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  18. 18.H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  19. 19.H.R. 722, the Life at Conception Act (Life at Conception Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  20. 20.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  22. 22.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  23. 23.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  24. 24.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  25. 25.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
  26. 26.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
  27. 27.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
  28. 28.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  29. 29.Roll call: Affordable Care Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2010-03-21 Official record
  30. 30.Roll call: American Health Care Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-05-04 Official record
  31. 31.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  32. 32.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  33. 33.Roll call: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-20 Official record
  34. 34.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
  35. 35.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
  36. 36.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  37. 37.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  38. 38.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  39. 39.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  40. 40.Roll call: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-06 Official record
  41. 41.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  42. 42.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  43. 43.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
  44. 44.Roll call: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-10-03 Official record
  45. 45.Becky Lynn Stille · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  46. 46.Becky Lynn Stille's 2026 campaign website, quoted verbatim · Becky Lynn Stille 2026 campaign website (via Ballotpedia) · 2026-04-29 Candidate's own words
  47. 47.Democrat Becky Stille Running for Nebraska's 3rd Congressional Seat · KLIN · 2025-08-01 News report
  48. 48.Nonpartisan Cohen submits signatures seeking Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District ballot · WOWT / Nebraska Examiner · 2026-07-31 News report
  49. 49.Democrat Becky Stille runs in Nebraska's most conservative congressional district · Nebraska Examiner · 2025-09-29 News report
  50. 50.U.S. House Nebraska's 3rd District results 2026 · NBC News News report
  51. 51.United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  52. 52.Nonpartisan Cohen submits signatures seeking Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District ballot · WOWT / Nebraska Examiner · 2026-07-31 News report
  53. 53.David J. Else · BallotReady Reference
  54. 54.Adrian Smith (Nebraska) · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  55. 55.3rd Congressional District voter guide: Meet the Nebraskans running · Nebraska Public Media · 2026-10-01 News report
  56. 56.U.S. House, 3rd Congressional District (2026 Primary Voter Guide) · Nebraska Examiner · 2026-10-19 News report
  57. 57.U.S. House Nebraska's 3rd District results 2026 · NBC News News report
  58. 58.United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  59. 59.Macey Budke, Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey (2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  60. 60.Nonpartisan Cohen submits signatures seeking Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District ballot · WOWT / Nebraska Examiner · 2026-07-31 News report
  61. 61.U.S. House Nebraska's 3rd District results 2026 · NBC News News report
  62. 62.United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  63. 63.Nonpartisan Cohen submits signatures seeking Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District ballot · WOWT / Nebraska Examiner · 2026-07-31 News report
  64. 64.Mark Cohen's Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  65. 65.Mark Cohen Submits Signatures to Appear on Nebraska Ballot for Congress · Nebraska Rural Radio Association News report
  66. 66.Nonpartisan Mark Cohen certified for Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District ballot · Nebraska Examiner · 2026-08-12 News report
  67. 67.U.S. House Nebraska's 3rd District results 2026 · NBC News News report