Nebraska Gov. Ricketts seeks appointment to US Senate seat
2 years ago

Nebraska Gov. Ricketts seeks appointment to US Senate seat

Associated Press  

— Outgoing Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts announced his intention Tuesday to seek appointment to the state’s U.S. Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican Ben Sasse, who is leaving Congress to become president of the University of Florida. With Ricketts’ help, Pillen won a hard-fought primary race earlier this year to secure the Republican nomination and will replace Ricketts next month. In his announcement to seek the Senate seat, Ricketts said he wants to promote a conservative agenda in Washington based on his plans to “cut taxes, strengthen public safety and our national security, and protect our most sacred freedoms.” “For me, it came down to a single question: How can I best serve the people of Nebraska and advance our conservative values?” he said in the written statement. He officially submitted his resignation letter Monday, saying he plans to leave the Senate effective Jan. 8 — after Ricketts leaves the governor’s office and Pillen in sworn in.

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History of this topic

Pete Ricketts sworn in as Nebraska senator, replacing Sasse
1 year, 11 months ago

Pete Ricketts sworn in as Nebraska senator, replacing Sasse

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Former Nebraska Gov. Ricketts is bringing the Senate back to its “full 100-person strength,” said Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who welcomed Ricketts on the Senate floor after he was sworn into office by Vice President Kamala Harris. Even though he was easily re-elected in 2020, Sasse spoke of “ups and downs” of his Senate career in a December …

Nebraska governor names predecessor to US Senate seat
1 year, 11 months ago

Nebraska governor names predecessor to US Senate seat

Associated Press  

— In one of his first acts as Nebraska’s governor, Republican Jim Pillen named his predecessor to the state’s vacant U.S. Senate seat on Thursday. “I am humbled and grateful.” He also promised to continue Sasse’s vocal criticism of the Chinese Communist Party, saying he will work with Republican colleagues in the Senate to reduce China’s geopolitical influence. Ricketts also …

Sasse’s exit from Senate prompts GOP unease over replacement
2 years ago

Sasse’s exit from Senate prompts GOP unease over replacement

Associated Press  

— When Republican Jim Pillen becomes Nebraska’s governor next month, one of his first acts will likely be to name his predecessor and biggest supporter to fill an open U.S. Senate seat. Things like this stay on voters’ minds.” It’s hard to overstate how much Ricketts helped Pillen, a veterinarian and hog farmer, win his party’s nomination after a contentious …

Republican hog farmer Jim Pillen elected Nebraska governor
2 years, 1 month ago

Republican hog farmer Jim Pillen elected Nebraska governor

Associated Press  

— Republican businessman Jim Pillen was elected Nebraska’s next governor on Tuesday by defeating Democratic state Sen. Carol Blood to extend the GOP’s 24-year string of success in the conservative state. Nebraska hasn’t elected a Democrat as governor since 1994, and Pillen was the clear favorite after emerging from a contentious primary in the spring over eight other candidates. Those …

All eyes on Nebraska Gov. Ricketts to replace Sen. Sasse
2 years, 2 months ago

All eyes on Nebraska Gov. Ricketts to replace Sen. Sasse

Associated Press  

— With Ben Sasse apparently ready to resign his Nebraska U.S. Senate seat to become president of the University of Florida, speculation is rampant that his temporary replacement could be Gov. “I think the obvious candidate is Pete Ricketts, and if he wants to be a U.S. senator, then it’s his to take,” said Mark Fahleson, a former chairman of …

Nebraska senator likely to resign for Fla. university job
2 years, 2 months ago

Nebraska senator likely to resign for Fla. university job

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse is the sole finalist to become president of the University of Florida, the school said Thursday, and the Republican senator indicated he will take the job — meaning he will likely resign in the coming weeks. In a statement released by the school, Sasse said he was “thrilled about the opportunity to work alongside …

GOP governor hopeful Pillen endorsed by Nebraska Cattlemen
2 years, 6 months ago

GOP governor hopeful Pillen endorsed by Nebraska Cattlemen

Associated Press  

— Republican governor hopeful Jim Pillen scored the endorsement Thursday of the Nebraska Cattlemen, a top advocacy group for the state’s ranchers. Brenda Masek, the chairwoman of the Nebraska Cattlemen’s political action committee, said Pillen has “walked in our shoes” as an agricultural producer and would be a strong advocate for the industry at the Capitol. Pillen is running against …

Nebraska GOP strains to unite after Trump’s candidate loses
2 years, 7 months ago

Nebraska GOP strains to unite after Trump’s candidate loses

Associated Press  

— Nebraska Republicans struggled to put the bruising campaign for governor behind them on Wednesday as a rally that was intended to highlight party unity instead showed division following the first major loss for a candidate endorsed by Donald Trump in this year’s midterm elections. “I know when you or your candidate is on the losing side, sometimes it becomes …

Ricketts endorses fellow Republican Jim Pillen for governor
2 years, 11 months ago

Ricketts endorses fellow Republican Jim Pillen for governor

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Ricketts’ endorsement comes less than three months after one of Pillen’s competitors, Falls City agriculture businessman Charles Herbster, won support from Donald Trump, who remains hugely popular in most of the state. When Herbster’s campaign announced the Trump endorsement, Ricketts issued a press release a few …

Gov. candidate Herbster backed by Trump, but not Ricketts
3 years, 1 month ago

Gov. candidate Herbster backed by Trump, but not Ricketts

Associated Press  

Pete Ricketts has split with former President Donald Trump over which Republican candidate should become governor after Ricketts leaves office. “While I agree with President Trump on many things, I strongly disagree that Charles Herbster is qualified to be our next governor,” said Ricketts, who can’t seek reelection in 2022 due to term limits. Trump praised Herbster as “an extraordinarily …

Nebraska Sen. Sasse bets political future on opposing Trump
3 years, 10 months ago

Nebraska Sen. Sasse bets political future on opposing Trump

Associated Press  

— When Ben Sasse heard that GOP activists in Nebraska were primed to censure him for insufficiently supporting Donald Trump, the Republican senator didn’t try to talk them out it. In a five-minute video posted to Facebook and YouTube, Sasse ripped fellow Republicans for following a “cult of personality” and “acting like politics is religion.” It’s the no-apologies approach Nebraskans …

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