Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts announced on Tuesday that he will seek an appointment to serve as the state’s next U.S. Senator.The state’s upcoming senate vacancy was created by Ben Sasse’s upcoming resignation.“This decision is the result of many hours of prayer and family discussions,” Ricketts said in a statement. “For me, it came down to a single question: How can I best serve the people of Nebraska and advance our conservative values? In Congress, we’re in a fight for the future of our nation, and it’s a fight we have to win. We must cut taxes, strengthen public safety and our national security, and protect our most sacred freedoms.” The Nebraska democrats came out swinging after the announcement. Party chair Jane Kleeb called it “the state’s most obvious pay-to-play case.””Ricketts bought this U.S. Senate seat. He tried to win against Sen. Ben Nelson with his parents’ money in 2006 and the voters rejected him two-to-one,” Kleeb said in a statement.She’s pointing to the decision on who will be the next US senator falling to Gov.-elect Jim Pillen, who was endorsed and received financial backing by Ricketts. Related video: Gov. Ricketts, Jane Kleeb talk Nebraska U.S. senate appointmentSasse was confirmed by the University of Florida board of governors as the school’s next president on Nov. 9. He said in November that he will finish out this session. Sasse will then resign on Jan. 8. Under Nebraska law, Pillen would then appoint the state’s next senator within 45 days, according to Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen.Applications to fill Sasse’s seat are requested by Dec. 23. You can find more information here.The person appointed by Pillen would serve until January 2025 and an election would be held in 2024 to fill the seat for the remaining two years of the term, Evnen said.Evnen said the person appointed by the governor would also be eligible to run in 2024. An election for the full six-year term will be held in 2026.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts announced on Tuesday that he will seek an appointment to serve as the state’s next U.S. Senator.
The state’s upcoming senate vacancy was created by Ben Sasse’s upcoming resignation.
“This decision is the result of many hours of prayer and family discussions,” Ricketts said in a statement. “For me, it came down to a single question: How can I best serve the people of Nebraska and advance our conservative values? In Congress, we’re in a fight for the future of our nation, and it’s a fight we have to win. We must cut taxes, strengthen public safety and our national security, and protect our most sacred freedoms.”
The Nebraska democrats came out swinging after the announcement. Party chair Jane Kleeb called it “the state’s most obvious pay-to-play case.”
“Ricketts bought this U.S. Senate seat. He tried to win against Sen. Ben Nelson with his parents’ money in 2006 and the voters rejected him two-to-one,” Kleeb said in a statement.
She’s pointing to the decision on who will be the next US senator falling to Gov.-elect Jim Pillen, who was endorsed and received financial backing by Ricketts.
Related video: Gov. Ricketts, Jane Kleeb talk Nebraska U.S. senate appointment
Sasse was confirmed by the University of Florida board of governors as the school’s next president on Nov. 9. He said in November that he will finish out this session. Sasse will then resign on Jan. 8.
Under Nebraska law, Pillen would then appoint the state’s next senator within 45 days, according to Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen.
Applications to fill Sasse’s seat are requested by Dec. 23. You can find more information here.
The person appointed by Pillen would serve until January 2025 and an election would be held in 2024 to fill the seat for the remaining two years of the term, Evnen said.
Evnen said the person appointed by the governor would also be eligible to run in 2024.
An election for the full six-year term will be held in 2026.