1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska

The 1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. James Exon decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican nominee Chuck Hagel won the open seat by 14 points, defeating incumbent Democratic governor Ben Nelson. Nelson would later be elected to Nebraska's other U.S. Senate seat in 2000 when Bob Kerrey retired and served alongside Hagel until 2009, when Hagel left the Senate after retiring.

As of 2024, this is the last time an incumbent governor failed to hold a Senate seat for his party. This was also the first time since Carl Curtis was elected to his final term in 1972 that a Republican was elected to either of Nebraska's Senate seats.

Candidates

 * Ben Nelson, Governor of Nebraska

Candidates

 * Chuck Hagel, businessman
 * Don Stenberg, Attorney General of Nebraska

Candidates

 * John DeCamp (L), former state senator
 * Bill Dunn (NL)
 * Chuck Hagel (R), businessman
 * Ben Nelson (D), Governor of Nebraska