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Thanks to its relatively small popu-
lation, Nebraska sends only three rep-
resentatives to the U.S. House of
Representatives. In presidential elec-
tions, Nebraska gets five electoral
votes. Along with Maine, Nebraska is
one of only two states that split their
electoral votes by congressional dis-
trict.
Because
of
this
system,
Democratic candidate Barack Obama
ended up with one of Nebraska’s elec-
toral votes in the 2008 presidential
election, even though Republican
nominee John McCain carried the
state as a whole. This was the first
time since 1964 that this traditionally
Republican state gave an electoral
vote to a Democratic presidential
nominee.
The Economy
Farming has been central to Nebraska’s
economy ever since its early days of
statehood. Today, the Cornhusker
State has about 45.5 million acres of
farms and ranches. That’s about 93 per-
cent of the state’s total land area.
Overall, Nebraska ranks fourth in the
nation for crop production, behind
53
Lower Plains: Kansas, Nebraska
President Barack Obama and
U.S. Secretary of Defense
Chuck Hagel place their hands
over their hearts as the National
Anthem is performed. Hagel was
decorated for his military service
during the Vietnam War, and
later became a successful busi-
nessman. In 1997 he was elect-
ed to represent Nebraska in the
U.S. Senate, a post he held until
his retirement in 2009. In 2013,
President Obama appointed
Hagel to serve in his cabinet as
Secretary of Defense.