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Christensen, a registered Democrat, won the District 1 seat, which encompasses Lincoln and northwest Lancaster County, over Davids, a registered Republican, with 58% of the vote.

“We are grateful to have earned the trust and support of our voters,� Christensen told the Journal Star while at a party with her campaign team Tuesday night. “Tonight isn't just the end, but the work begins on the state board.�

Christensen, who has lived in Lincoln for more than a decade, has spent her career working as a special education and academic intervention teacher in Lincoln, most recently at Sheridan Elementary.

As the District 1 representative, Christensen said student success will be at the top of her priority list, alongside teacher support, including the recruitment, development and retention of teachers. She also vows to support collaboration among elected officials and community members.

The District 1 seat has long been held by Patsy Koch Johns, a Democrat, who announced in August 2023 that she would not seek another term on the board and simultaneously endorsed Christensen.

Davids, a Lincoln native who has taught each of her five children at home, ran her campaign with three core values in mind: improved academic opportunities; more room for collaboration between schools and parents; and increased transparency with the community.

“I am so grateful for this past year of campaigning and meeting so many wonderful members of our community, and I hope that Kristin will be very intentional about meeting many members of the community and representing them well on the state board,� Davids said from an election night event at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel hosted by the Nebraska Republican Party.

Nebraska voters also decided on the three other State Board of Education seats that were on the ballot Tuesday. Along with Koch Johns, the current members of the second, third and fourth districts also opted to step down from their positions on the board rather than run for reelection this year.

While the state board is technically nonpartisan, these elections have likely changed the political makeup of the board and offset the current balance of liberal and conservative leaning members.

Since 2022, the board has been made up of three like-minded Republicans and four Democrats, with another registered Republican typically siding with the Democratic members. After Tuesday’s election results, however, the board could now often be gridlocked, with four Republicans and four Democrats if late results hold.

The only race still close in late election results was District 2, where Democrat Maggie Douglas led Republican Linda Vermooten. Republican Lisa Schonhoff beat fellow Republican Bill McAllister in District 3 and Democrat Liz Renner bested nonpartisan LeDonna White Griffin in District 4.