Nebraska governor seeks Ben Sasse's Senate seat

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts announced Tuesday he'll seek to succeed Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) in the Senate.

Ricketts said his decision came down to a single question: "How can I best serve the people of Nebraska and advance our conservative values?"

"In Congress, we’re in a fight for the future of our nation, and it’s a fight we have to win," Ricketts said in a statement, according to KETV.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA TRUSTEES CHOOSE SASSE FOR PRESIDENT

He added that his focus will be on cutting taxes and strengthening public safety and national security, among others.

© Provided by Washington Examiner Pete Ricketts. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Sasse submitted his letter of resignation on Monday, effective Jan. 8, because he is set to become the University of Florida's next president in February, according to the Nebraska Examiner.

Gov.-elect Jim Pillen is expected to appoint Sasse's replacement, who will serve until January 2025. All candidates seeking appointment to the vacant Senate seat have until Dec. 23 to apply, according to Pillen.

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Sasse's appointment as the Florida university's president was met with protests from students, partly stemming from Sasse's history of opposing same-sex marriage. The senator has described the 2015 Supreme Court decision on Obergefell v. Hodges as a "disappointment."

The Nebraska senator was a major critic of former President Donald Trump. After the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, he was one of seven GOP members of the Senate who voted in favor of conviction in Trump's impeachment trial.

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Tags: Nebraska, Senate, Ben Sasse, Republican Party, Senate Republicans

Original Author: Rachel Schilke

Original Location: Nebraska governor seeks Ben Sasse's Senate seat