Bob Krist

Robert J. Krist (born March 29, 1957) is an American politician who served as the Nebraska State Senator from the 10th district from 2009 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party until 2017, his district includes Bennington and part of Omaha. Krist joined the Democratic Party in 2018; he was its nominee for Governor of Nebraska in the 2018 election.

Bob Krist
Member of the Nebraska Legislature
from the 10th district
In office
September 11, 2009 – January 9, 2019
Preceded byMike Friend
Succeeded byWendy DeBoer
Personal details
Born (1957-03-29) March 29, 1957
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (before 2017, 2022–present)[1]
Other political
affiliations		Democratic (2018–2022)
Independent (2017–2018)
EducationUniversity of St. Thomas, Minnesota (BA)
Webster University (MA)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force
Years of service1979–2000
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Battles/warsOperation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Awards Air Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal

Personal life

Krist was born in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1980, he married Margaret Mary O'Connor.[2]

Education

Krist graduated with honors from Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1975. He attended the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology in 1979. He obtained a Master of Arts degree in business administration and human relations from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1982.

Military career

Krist served in the United States Air Force from 1979 to 2000 and retired as a lieutenant colonel.[3] During his stint in the Air Force, Krist held key leadership positions directing critical missions including the high visibility Looking Glass mission at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska.[4] He scheduled operations and flew missions on the Looking Glass EC-135 aircraft, which was the Airborne Command Post for Strategic Air Command.[4]

Among other operations, Krist served in both Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.[4] In 1998, he was chosen as an Active Duty Air Force Advisor to then-Nebraska Governor Ben Nelson and the Adjutant General of Nebraska.[4]

In 2014, Krist was inducted into the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame.[4] In 2017, the Secretary of State of Nebraska, John Gale, appointed him to serve on the Honor a Veteran Honorary Steering Committee.[5]

Nebraska Legislature

Krist was appointed to the Nebraska Legislature by Governor Dave Heineman on September 11, 2009, to replace Senator Mike Friend. He won election to the office in 2010 and was reelected in 2014.[3] Krist represented the 10th Legislative District, an area encompassing some of the northwest portion of Omaha, the entire city of Bennington and a north-central portion of Douglas County.[6] In 2015, senators elected him Chairman of the Executive Board of the Legislative Council and he also served as Chairman of the Referencing Committee.[3]

His standing committee assignments in the Legislature include the Judiciary Committee, the Agriculture Committee, and the General Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Rules Committee and the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Committee.[7]

2018 gubernatorial campaign
Main article: 2018 Nebraska gubernatorial election

In 2017, Krist expressed interest in running for the governorship of Nebraska in 2018. He initially indicated that he might run against incumbent Pete Ricketts in the Republican primary.[8] In July 2017, he stated that he would run as a third-party candidate and that he would remain a Republican until the end of his term in the Nebraska Legislature.[9] In September 2017, Krist announced his candidacy; he stated that he would change his party registration to "nonpartisan" later that day.[10] In February 2018, he changed his registration to the Democratic Party and said he would run for that party's gubernatorial nomination.[11]

Krist won the primary election on May 15, 2018, defeating two other candidates.[12] He was defeated in the general election on November 6, 2018 by Ricketts, with 41% of the vote against Ricketts's 59%.

Occupation

Krist is currently the Contract Manager for the United States Army Corps of Engineers Northwest Division Aviation Program. He has served as a pilot since 2000 and the Chief Pilot since 2002.[4] The Division Aircraft is based at Offutt Air Force Base in the Omaha District and also services the Kansas City, Missouri, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington and Walla Walla, Washington districts.[13]

Electoral history

2018
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Krist 54,992 59.81
Democratic Vanessa Gayle Ward 26,478 28.80
Democratic Tyler Davis 10,472 11.39
Total votes 91,942 100.00
Nebraska gubernatorial election, 2018[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Pete Ricketts (incumbent) 411,812 59.00% +1.85%
Democratic Bob Krist 286,169 41.00% +1.77%
Total votes 697,981 100.00% N/A
Republican hold

See also

References
  1. Walton, Don (February 21, 2022). "Former Democratic governor candidate Bob Krist returns to GOP to support Lindstrom for governor". The Grand Island Independent. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  2. "Biography". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved May 19, 2017. Archived February 2, 2017.
  3. Nebraska Blue Book 2014-15, p. 292. Nebraska Legislature website. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  4. Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame. Nebraska Department of Aeronautics website. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  5. Honor a Veteran Honorary Steering Committee, Nebraska Secretary of State website. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  6. Map of Legislative District 10, Nebraska Legislature website. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  7. State Senator Bob Krist profile, Nebraska Legislature website. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  8. Walton, Don. "Krist may challenge Ricketts in 2018". Lincoln Journal Star. May 2, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  9. Konnath, Hailey. "Nebraska State Sen. Bob Krist to leave GOP, try to challenge Ricketts as third-party candidate". Omaha World-Herald. July 15, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  10. Young, JoAnne (September 13, 2017). "Omaha Sen. Bob Krist announces his independent run for governor". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  11. Walton, Don (February 12, 2018). "Krist drops independent bid, will challenge Ricketts as a Democrat". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  12. Duggan, Joe (May 16, 2018). "Pete Ricketts, Bob Krist cruise to wins in governor's race". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  13. US Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division. Retrieved October 1, 2009.
  14. "Official Results: General Election – November 6, 2018". Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
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