Jim Pillen sworn in as Nebraska’s 41st governor

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska has a new governor.

Gov. Jim Pillen was sworn in Thursday afternoon at the State Capitol. He replaces Gov. Pete Ricketts, who was limited to two terms.

“I’m confident he (Pillen) will be successful,” Ricketts wrote in an essay this week. “He shares the same guiding vision as me and the governors who led before us: Serve Nebraskans. While the policies and practices change from administration to administration, that North Star that guides the governor’s office has remained unwavering.”

One of Pillen’s first courses of action is to find a replacement for Ben Sasse in the U.S. Senate. Ricketts is widely regarded as Pillen’s top applicant.

Meanwhile, several other government officials will be sworn in during Thursday’s ceremony, including former Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers as attorney general and former Lt. Gov. Mike Foley as state auditor.

Pillen has told multiple media outlets that he plans on being very active during this legislative session to get his agenda passed. That includes a big emphasis on education reform.

One of his top supporters, Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, was voted in as the Education Committee chair during the first day of the Legislature on Wednesday.