Terry was considered a potential candidate for the United States Senate in 2012 but declined to run, instead seeking an eighth House term. In the primary, he emerged victorious with 59% of the vote. The anti-Terry vote was split between former University of Nebraska football player Brett Lindstrom, who took 23%, and University of Nebraska professor Jack Heidel, with 11%. Glenn Freeman and Paul Anderson took 4% and 2% respectively. After redistricting following the 2010 United States Census, Nebraska Republicans redrew the state's congressional map and made the 2nd district more Republican, so Obama's reelection campaign did not target the district as heavily as in 2008. Polling showed that Obama was still competitive in the district; he ultimately lost it, 53% to 46%. In the congressional election, Terry faced Democrat John Ewing, the Douglas County Treasurer. Terry outspent Ewing four to one and Ewing, who received no help from national Democrats, outperformed Obama and lost by just 51% to 49%.