Brian Neben, NRG Media
KEARNEY — Senator Pete Ricketts announced his campaign kickoff for the 2024 Senate election at KAAPA Ethanol in Kearney on Wednesday, Aug. 23.
Ricketts, the 40th Governor of Nebraska, left office after his second term as governor expired on January 5, 2023.
He was appointed to the U.S. Senate by his gubernatorial successor, Jim Pillen, to fill the vacancy created when Ben Sasse resigned to become president of the University of Florida.
Upon his appointment to the Senate, Ricketts announced that he would run in the 2024 special election to serve the remaining two years of Sasse’s term.
Ricketts had sought election to the Senate in 2006 but lost to Democrat Ben Nelson.
Ricketts noted he is a part of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Committee on Foreign Relations and Special Committee on Aging.
Ricketts intends to run on a conservative platform, emphasizing fiscal responsibility, fighting inflation, securing the U.S.-Mexico border, stopping the “radical left,” from undermining traditional values, giving parents greater control over child-rearing and bringing Nebraska values to Washington D.C.
“Nebraska is what America is supposed to be,” he said, “Faith, freedom, sacrifice and grit is what has left us with this great nation.”
“It was the states that created the federal government, not the other way around,” Ricketts said, “We know best, how to run our state. I will go to D.C. and fight for those values, each and every day.”
“(Nebraska) can teach the rest of the nation, how to get back on track,” said Ricketts.
