By Cheril Lee
Omaha, NE – Nebraska Governor Republican Dave Heineman easily defeated his opponent, Democrat Mike Meister in yesterday's election.
Heineman received about three of every four votes in the race. He says he wants to thank Nebraskans for their overwhelming support and says he just learned this morning that he won by the widest margin of any governor in America last night. Heineman says he will continue to focus on key issues Nebraskans talk about everyday, "That's jobs, improving the economy, strengthening education. The most immediate challenge will be the budget, upcoming in January. I intend to submit a balanced budget without raising taxes but the priority will be education."
Heineman became governor in 2005 when then-Governor Mike Johanns became Secretary of Agriculture. He was then officially elected Governor of Nebraska in 2006.