Marge Higgins
Marge Higgins | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 9th district | |
| In office December 2, 1980 – January 4, 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Ray Powers |
| Succeeded by | John Lindsay |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 3, 1931 |
| Died | December 2, 2015 (aged 84) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
David Higgins
(m. 1956; died 2013) |
| Relatives | Anne Boyle (niece) |
| Education | Mount Saint Joseph Junior College for Women |
| Occupation | Real estate investor |
Margaret "Marge" Higgins (née Andreasen, August 3, 1931 – December 2, 2015) was a Democratic politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 9th district from 1980 to 1989.
Early life
Margaret Andreasen was born in 1931 in Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][2] She graduated from Cathedral High School and moved to Kentucky to attend the Mount Saint Joseph Junior College for Women and enter a convent, but dropped out before taking her vows.[2] She married David Higgins, a supervisor at the U.S. penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas, and they relocated to Omaha.[2] She worked with her brother-in-law, Douglas County Treasurer Sam Howell, and owned a commercial insurance firm with him, and was appointed to the Omaha Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women, and advocated for improving jail conditions.[2] She served as the chair of the Douglas County Democratic Party from 1974 to 1976.[3]
Nebraska Legislature
In 1980, Higgins announced that she would challenge appointed State Senator Ray Powers in the 9th district, which was based in downtown Omaha.[4] In the nonpartisan election, Higgins faced Powers and construction worker John Cronin and University of Nebraska at Omaha student Randy Stevenson.[5][6] Higgins placed second in the primary, winning 38 percent of the vote to Powers's 43 percent,[7] and they advanced to the general election.[8] In the general election, Higgins defeated Powers by a narrow margin, winning 51–49 percent.[7][9]
Following Higgins's victory, Powers resigned from the legislature early, and Higgins was appointed to serve out the remaining month of his term.[10] She was sworn in on December 2, 1980.[11]
Higgins ran for re-election in 1984, and was challenged by C. Bruce Davis, the chairman of the Nebraska Commission on Aging.[12] In the primary election, Higgins placed first by a wide margin, winning 62 percent of the vote to Davis's 38 percent.[13][14] Higgins only narrowly defeated Davis in the general election, winning her second term with 52 percent of the vote.[13]
In 1985, Higgins announced that she would run for Governor in 1986.[3] She contracted a severe case of the flu during the campaign, and was absent from the campaign trail for six weeks in the months leading up to the primary election. However, after receiving a "clean bill of health" from her doctor, she continued her campaign.[15] However, she ended up finishing a distant fifth in the Democratic primary, receiving 3 percent of the vote.[16][17]
Higgins declined to seek a third term in the legislature in 1988.[18]
Death
Higgins died on December 2, 2015.[2]
References
- ↑ Smith, Gail Lynn, ed. (1987). Nebraska Blue Book 1986-87 (PDF). Clerk of the Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Buddenberg, Roger (December 4, 2015). "Former state senator championed rights of underdogs". Omaha World-Herald. p. 3B. Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Marge Higgins Plans to Run For Governor". Omaha World-Herald. November 23, 1985. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Higgins Files In District 9". Omaha World-Herald. March 14, 1980. p. 6. Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Kelly, Michael (April 20, 1980). "2 Legislative Entries Look Neck and Neck". Omaha World-Herald. p. 34. Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Kelly, Michael (April 23, 1980). "9th Legislative District Race a Gamble for Some Candidates". Omaha World-Herald. p. 53. Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Beermann, Allen J. (1980). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 13, 1980, General Election, November 4, 1980 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
- ↑ McClanahan, A.J. (May 14, 1980). "Omaha Area Incumbents Win Tests for Legislature". Omaha World-Herald. p. 12. Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Thompson, David (November 6, 1980). "Defeat of Incumbent Senators Was Unmatched in 30 Years". Omaha World-Herald. p. 38. Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Partsch, Frank (November 21, 1980). "Sen. Powers Cuts Term By a Month". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ O'Donnell, Patrick J., ed. (1981). Legislative Journal of the State of Nebraska: Eighty-Seventh Legislature, First Session (PDF). Vol. 1. p. 3. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Legislature Seat Sought by Davis". Omaha World-Herald. March 12, 1984. p. 2. Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Beermann, Allen J. (1984). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 15, 1984, General Election, November 6, 1984 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
- ↑ Taylor, John (May 16, 1984). "Educators to Challenge 2 Incumbents". Omaha World-Herald. p. 4. Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Marge Higgins Stays in Race". Omaha World-Herald. April 2, 1986. p. 22. Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Beermann, Allen J. (1986). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 13, 1986, General Election, November 4, 1986 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
- ↑ Roth, Evan; Allan, Tom (May 14, 1986). "Omaha 'Visibility' Was Strong Omen For Mrs. Boosalis". Omaha World-Herald. p. 11. Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Four Bid to Succeed Sen. Higgins As She Declines to Seek 3rd Term". Omaha World-Herald. February 26, 1988. p. 8. Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.