2006 election

In November 2005, Friesen announced his intention of running in the next year's election for the Nebraska Legislature from the 24th District, which consisted of York, Seward, and part of Polk County. Incumbent Elaine Stuhr, a member of the Republican Party, was barred by Nebraska's term-limits law from running for re-election.^{[4][11][12][13]}

Friesen, a Republican, was one of four candidates in the race. Greg Adams, a Republican, was a high-school teacher and the current mayor of York. Jim Ruby, a Republican from Seward, had served as the Seward County attorney from 1999 to 2003. Larry TeSelle had sold cars in Seward and Milford for 30 years; at the time of the election, he was a maintenance worker for Union Bank in Lincoln.^[14][15][16]

In the nonpartisan primary, Adams received 4055 votes, or 42.8% of the 9474 votes cast. Friesen placed second, with 3593 votes, or 37.9%. Ruby and TeSelle received 1202 votes (12.7%) and 624 votes (6.6%) respectively.^[17]

As the top two vote-getters in the primary, Adams and Friesen moved on to the general election. Over the entire course of the election, the Adams campaign was one of the top fundraisers among the southeastern Nebraska legislative races, raising $68,000 and spending $54,000;^[16][18] the Friesen campaign raised $34,000 and spent the same.^[19] Several of the largest institutional contributors gave money to both campaigns: the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry gave $3000 to Adams and $1500 to Friesen; the Nebraska Bankers gave $3600 to Adams and $1250 to Friesen; the Associated General Contractors Highway Improvement PAC gave $3500 to Adams and $500 to Friesen. The Nebraska Realtors gave $1500 to Adams and nothing to Friesen; Central Nebraska Wood Preservers of Sutton, Nebraska, gave Friesen $2000 and Adams nothing.^[18][19]

When the November election was held, Adams received 6088 votes, or 50.8% of the 11,979 votes cast; Friesen received 5891 votes, or 49.2%.^[20]

2014 election

In August 2013, Friesen announced that he would make a second bid for a seat in the Nebraska legislature. On this occasion, he ran from the 34th District, which encompassed Nance, Merrick, Hamilton, and part of Hall Counties, including the cities of Fullerton, Central City, Aurora, and part of Grand Island. The incumbent, Annette Dubas, a member of the Democratic Party, was barred by Nebraska's term-limits law from running for a third consecutive term.^[21][22][23]

Friesen ran unopposed in the 2014 election.^[24] He raised over $35,000 for the campaign, and spent $7600. Major contributors included the Nebraska Realtors, which supplied $3000; the Nebraska Bankers PAC and the Nebraska Optometric Association, each of which contributed $2000; and the Associated General Contractors Highway Improvement PAC, which furnished $1750.^[25]

Legislative tenure