Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts begins reelection campaign with state tour

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts announced his reelection campaign on Wednesday.

He launched the campaign with a tour around Nebraska, which included stops in North Platte and Kearney.  The last stop is at Blatt Beer & Table in Omaha at 5 p.m.

“Representing my fellow Nebraskans in the Senate is an honor and privilege,” Ricketts said in a press release. “Today, our nation is on the wrong track. Washington has never been in greater need of commonsense, conservative leadership. I’m asking for Nebraskans’ support to carry on the fight for our shared values in the Senate.”

In January, the former governor was tasked with filling the Senate seat left vacant by Ben Sasse, who became the University of Florida’s president.

Since being sworn in, Ricketts has visited Nebraskans serving in Lithuania, pushed for harsher penalties for fentanyl dealers and co-sponsored the Passport Act.

Nebraskans will be able to vote on the Senate seat in 2024.  It is not yet known who will run against Ricketts.

In a statement, Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said they will be announcing a candidate later this year.

“As Governor, the corruption by Ricketts has gone from subtle to outright bold at all levels of government,” she said. “He is the epitome of a quid pro quo politician who spends millions to influence local and statewide elections in the state all with the goal of having elected officials not accountable to voters and instead accountable to Ricketts and Ricketts only.”