(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen recently appointed former GOP Governor Pete Ricketts to replace the state’s outgoing RINO Sen. Ben Sasse.
Ricketts will replace Sasse for the remainder of his term, which was slated to end in 2024. He noted that he would tentatively plan to run again in 2026 in order to retain his seat.
Politico reported that Pillen chose Ricketts because he thought he would be committed to running again in 2026, and knew that he could appeal to the state of Nebraska.
“There’s never been a Nebraskan who has had to run for statewide election in two consecutive terms … it’s an extraordinarily rigorous challenge,” Pillen said. “I don’t believe in placeholders.”
Ricketts confirmed that he was up to the challenge.
“One of things we as Republicans need to win elections is to have a broad tent,” he said. “I’m committed to running in ‘24 and ‘26 to serve the people of Nebraska.”
The incoming senator, though an improvement on the #NeverTrumper Sasse, has had his share of run-ins with the former president.
Last year, Trump slammed Ricketts for endorsing Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.
“Today, the worst ‘election integrity’ Governor in the country, Brian Kemp, loaded the great state of Georgia up with RINOs,” Trump said.
“That’s right, he had them all. Chris Christie, Doug Ducey from Arizona, and Pete Ricketts from Nebraska. That tells you all you need to know about what you are getting in Georgia—just a continuation of bad elections and a real RINO if you vote for Brian Kemp.”
Despite the run-in, Ricketts has kept the conversation with Trump open, unlike his predecessor.
“I agree with many of the policies of the former president. We just back different candidates,” Ricketts told the Nebraska Examiner soon after the Kemp spat.
Ricketts is also a popular decision with Senate Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said that he believes Ricketts will be “extremely effective.”
