Gov. Ricketts Now Says He'll Be An Applicant For Vacant U.S. Senate Seat

From Nebraska Examiner:

By Paul Hammel

December 6, 2022

LINCOLN — After playing coy for more than two months, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Tuesday he will apply for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Ben Sasse.

“For me, it came down to a single question: How can I best serve the people of Nebraska and advance our conservative values?” Ricketts said in a statement Tuesday.

The 58-year-old Republican, who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 2006, said the decision came after many hours of prayer and family discussion.

‘Delivering results’

“Over the last eight years, we’ve shown the world the real impact conservative leadership can have,” Ricketts said. “I want to continue delivering results for our state, fighting to reduce taxes, grow our economy, defend our liberties, and run government more like a business.”

It has been widely speculated that the Senate post is Ricketts’ if he wanted it.

Pillen, whom Ricketts endorsed and supported financially, contributing $1.3 million to help the Columbus pork producer prevail in a rugged GOP primary, said Monday that he wants to fill the vacancy quickly. Pillen set a Dec. 23 deadline for applications.

When Sasse’s pending resignation became public in October, Ricketts said he would defer the appointment of a replacement to Pillen, who takes office Jan. 5, three days before Sasse’s resignation takes effect.

Deferred decision

Ricketts, in a statement then, said, “If I choose to pursue the appointment, I will leave the appointment decision to the next governor and will follow the process established for all interested candidates.”

Since then, the state’s top Republican has stuck to that script, saying he would defer to Pillen.

“I would love to remain involved in policy and politics,” Ricketts told a caller to his monthly call-in show two weeks ago.

Some Republicans have spoke out against Ricketts getting the appointment. But others, including State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, a political ally, have said there is no one more qualified for the job.

One other candidate

Even before the ink dried Monday on Sasse’s official resignation letter, one candidate threw his hat into the ring — retired Lt. Col. John Weaver of Omaha. He was an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Congress this year. Weaver wrote to Pillen that he would represent conservative values if selected.

Last month, the University of Florida Board of Governors voted to affirm Sasse’s appointment as the next president of the university in Gainesville, Florida.

Sasse, 50, had served as president of Midland University in Fremont before he was elected to the Senate in 2014. His first day at Florida will be Jan. 6.

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