Kamala Harris swears in Nebraska’s Pete Ricketts as newest US senator
Samantha-Jo Roth
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Former Gov. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) was sworn in as Nebraska’s newest senator on Monday, filling the seat of Ben Sasse (R-NE), who resigned to become president of the University of Florida.
Gov. Jim Pillen (R-NE) appointed Ricketts to fill Sasse’s seat earlier this year. He will serve out the remainder of Sasse’s term and then be required to run in a special election in November 2024 to complete the final two years of Sasse’s six-year term. Vice President Kamala Harris presided over his swearing-in.
NEBRASKA GOVERNOR NAMES PREDECESSOR PETE RICKETTS TO FILL SASSE’S SENATE SEAT
The Nebraska senator, who ran unsuccessfully for the upper chamber in 2006, said he is committed to running for the seat in both 2024 and 2026.
Term limits prevented Ricketts, who served two terms as governor of the Cornhusker State, from seeking reelection last year. He was a top supporter of Pillen’s campaign, and his early endorsement likely helped him rise to the governor’s mansion.
Both Ricketts and Pillen have pushed back on criticism that the replacement process involved “backroom dealings.” Pillen said Ricketts beat out eight other Republican finalists who applied to replace Sasse. Sasse resigned after Pillen was sworn in, which enabled Ricketts to fill the seat without having to self-appoint himself.
Sasse resigned earlier this month after receiving an offer to become president of the University of Florida. A vocal critic of Donald Trump, he voted to convict the former president in his impeachment trial. He also played a prominent role on the Judiciary and Intelligence panels.
Ricketts said he and his predecessor shared a lot in common but told the Washington Examiner he would not have voted to convict Trump.
“He was one of the most conservatives members of the Senate here, and we share a lot of the same philosophies with regard to holding government accountable, the threat from the People’s Republic of China, specifically the Chinese Communist Party — so, I think there’s actually more in common that we share philosophically,” he said shortly after he was sworn in.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) praised Rickett’s “proven record” and said he’s looking forward to working closely with him “for years to come.”
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“Governor Pillen could not have found a more capable leader to take the baton from our colleague Senator Sasse and fight for the Cornhusker State,” McConnell said in a statement earlier this month. “Ricketts has a proven record. He pairs sharp business savvy with a deep commitment to public service.”
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines (R-MT) said he looks “forward to working with Pete to stop Joe Biden’s harmful agenda and keep Nebraska red in 2024.”