Former Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse announces stage-four pancreatic cancer diagnosis
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Former Nebraska State Sen. Ben Sasse revealed on Tuesday that he’s been diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer.
Sasse – who served as a senator for Nebraska from 2015 to 2023 — made the announcement in a post on X.
“Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence,” he wrote. “But I already had a death sentence before last week too — we all do.”
In the post, Sasse said his family now “faces the reality of treatments” for the cancer.
“A well-lived life demands more reality — stiffer stuff,” Sasse said. “That’s why, during advent, even while still walking in darkness, we shout our hope — often properly with a gravelly voice soldiering through tears.”
Friends-
This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I’ll cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die.
Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence.…
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) December 23, 2025
Before he was elected to the Senate, Sasse led Midland University in Fremont.
Sasse vacated his congressional seat on Jan. 3, 2023, after accepting a job to become president at the University of Florida.
Gov. Jim Pillen then appointed his predecessor, Pete Ricketts, to Sasse’s seat.
In 2024, Sasse resigned as university president, citing his wife’s epilepsy diagnosis.
Several Nebraska officials, like Gov. Jim Pillen and Sen. Deb Fischer, responded on social media to Sasse’s announcement.
“A relentless advocate for Nebraska values — especially the pro-life movement, agriculture, and common sense — Ben’s love of service and the people of our state is unmistakable,” Pillen wrote.
Fischer, who worked alongside Sasse for several years, said she was “very saddened to hear the news.”
“I know he will face this difficult challenge anchored in his strong Christian faith and bolstered by the love of family and friends,” she said on X.
