Theresa Thibodeau (born June 9, 1975) is an American politician who served as a member of the

Nebraska Legislature The Nebraska Legislature (also called the Unicameral) is the legislative branch, legislature of the U.S. state of Nebraska. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska, Lincoln. With 49 members, known as "senators ...

from 2017 to 2019. In November 2021, Thibodeau entered the Republican primary for

Governor of Nebraska The governor of Nebraska is the head of government of the U.S. state of Nebraska as provided by the fourth article of the Constitution of Nebraska. The officeholder is elected to a four-year term, with elections held two years after presidential ...

Early life and career

Thibodeau was born Theresa Sanderson on June 9, 1975, in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

. She attended

Capistrano Valley High School Capistrano Valley High School (often called CVHS or Capo) is a public high school at the southern border of Mission Viejo, California, USA, that is run by the Capistrano Unified School District. It is set on a hilltop overlooking the San Dieg ...

and graduated in 1993. She attended the

University of Nebraska at Omaha The University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) is a public university, public research university in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded in 1908 by faculty from the Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Omaha, Nebraska), Omaha Presbyterian Theological ...

from 1996 to 1998, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in

psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feel ...

Political career

Nebraska State Legislature

Thibodeau was appointed to represent District 6, in

Omaha Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United S ...

, by Governor

Pete Ricketts John Peter Ricketts (born August 19, 1964) is an American businessman and politician serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, junior United States Senate, United States senator from Nebraska since 2023. A member of the Republican Part ...

in October 2017. The seat became vacant following the resignation of the incumbent Republican, Joni Craighead. Thibodeau was encouraged by Pete Rickets to submit her name for the position, which she did on October 13, two weeks after the deadline to submit on September 29. Thibodeau was defeated by

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

Machaela Cavanaugh in the 2018 midterm elections held in November 2018. Thibodeau unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor in the 2022 Nebraska gubernatorial election. She came in fourth place with 6.05% of the vote, behind

Jim Pillen James Douglas Pillen (born December 31, 1955) is an American politician, veterinarian, and livestock producer serving as the 41st and current governor of Nebraska since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Pillen served on the University of ...

(33.75%), Charles Herbster (30.13%), and Brett Lindstrom (25.68%).

Electoral history

Personal life

Thibodeau is a

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

. She and her husband, Joseph Thibodeau, live in Nebraska with their three children, two daughters and a son.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thibodeau, Theresa Women state legislators in Nebraska 21st-century American women politicians Democratic Party Nebraska state senators 1975 births Living people Politicians from Kansas City, Missouri University of Nebraska Omaha alumni Catholics from Missouri Catholics from Nebraska 21st-century members of the Nebraska Legislature