Nebraska governor to announce Ben Sasse replacement on Thursday

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Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen will announce former Sen. Ben Sasse's (R-NE) replacement on Thursday morning, days after Sasse stepped down to become president of the University of Florida.

Pillen, who was just elected in November, may choose his predecessor for the role. Former Gov. Pete Ricketts said publicly he would like to be considered.

SASSE'S EXIT FROM SENATE PROMPTS GOP UNEASE OVER REPLACEMENT

“I’ll be looking to appoint someone who embodies the commonsense, conservative values of Nebraska,” Pillen said in a statement last month.

Ricketts gave generously to Pillen's campaign, helping him win a crowded primary that included a candidate backed by former President Donald Trump. Ricketts served two terms as governor since 2015 and could not run again due to term limits.

Ricketts spent $12 million of his own money on a failed 2006 Senate campaign.

Sasse was first elected in 2014 and has four years remaining in his second term. He was a vocal critic of Trump and was previously the president of Midland University in Nebraska.

In his final Senate speech, he diagnosed problems with both the right- and left-wing approaches to solving national problems. “The Left’s plan is for more unelected bureaucrats. The Right’s plan is for a strongman,” he said.

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His replacement will serve for two years and then be subject to a special election in 2024 to finish the last two years of the term. In 2026, there will be a regular election for a typical six-year term. The Senate currently has a 51-48 Democratic majority while awaiting Sasse's replacement.

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Tags: Senate, Ben Sasse, Nebraska, Governor, Election, special election

Original Author: Virginia Aabram

Original Location: Nebraska governor to announce Ben Sasse replacement on Thursday