Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts is running for reelection this year, facing Democrat Preston Love Jr. Gov. Jim Pillen appointed Ricketts to the U.S. Senate last year after Ben Sasse left office. The special Senate election will determine who finishes out the remaining two years of the term.
Senators, who serve six-year terms, earn $174,000 per year.
2-year term
Preston Love Jr.
Age:Ìý82
±á´Ç³¾±ð:ÌýOmaha
Occupation:Â Community organizer, teacher
Party:Ìý¶Ù±ð³¾´Ç³¦°ù²¹³Ù
Elected offices held:Ìý±·´Ç²Ô±ð
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·¡»å³Ü³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln
Family:Â Married, four children
°Â±ð²ú²õ¾±³Ù±ð:Ìý
Why are you running for office?
To break the cycle of one-party rule in Nebraska so as to provide service to all Nebraskans.
What is your top priority?
To provide a strong voice and leadership to a myriad of issues facing Nebraskans that include a woman’s right to chose, a ban on assault weapons, sensible solutions to the border crisis, Middle East and Ukrainian wars, attention to the dangers of climate change, a pushback to corporate greed, to advocate for fair wages across Nebraska for our diverse communities, and also for our farmers, ranchers and milk producers.
What experiences qualify you for this office?
A rich life of private and public sector experiences, the accumulation of wisdom and a personal commitment to service.
What do you see as the top problem facing Nebraskans?  Â
Economic development with an emphasis on small businesses and a need to address shrinking worker pool throughout Nebraska.
What role should the federal government play in regulating access to abortion, contraception and fertility treatments?Â
The government should play no role in the decisions women make as it relates to their bodies and their reproductive health care.
How should the federal government handle undocumented immigrations already in this country?
We should provide a logical and sensible path for them to become citizens, also if they have been in the country long enough to build families, they should be recognized and given legal paths to work and pay taxes.
Pete Ricketts
Age:Ìý60
±á´Ç³¾±ð:ÌýOmaha
Occupation:Â United States Senator
±Ê²¹°ù³Ù²â:ÌýRepublican
Elected offices held:Â 40th Governor of Nebraska (2015-2023)
·¡»å³Ü³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýBachelor of Arts and M.B.A., University of Chicago
Family:Â Married to Susanne Shore, three children
°Â±ð²ú²õ¾±³Ù±ð:Ìý
Why are you running for office?
I first ran for office because I believe government can work better for people if we run it more like a business. I also believe one person can truly make a difference. As governor, I cut the growth of government spending from 6.5% to 2.8%. This allowed us to deliver property tax relief and improve government services. I’m running to serve Nebraskans in the U.S. Senate because I want to safeguard our American freedoms. I also believe we can bring our Nebraska solutions to Washington, D.C.
What experiences qualify you for this office?
We all ought to be very grateful to live in Nebraska. Nebraska has a lot to offer the rest of the country. Nebraska is what America is supposed to be. That’s because, unlike Washington, things work here. In Nebraska, we protect our rights and values. We have shown government can improve services by improving efficiency. We are a model for tax relief and economic growth. My experience as governor allows me to bring these proven Nebraska solutions to the rest of the nation.
What is your top priority?
My top priority is keeping Nebraska and America safe. We must secure our open southern border. The Biden-Harris administration dismantled border security laws. This threatens the safety of Nebraskans. Under their leadership, at least 99 terror watchlist suspects have been released into our country. I’m working to keep Nebraskans safe by backing legislation to restore “Remain in Mexico.†We also must end the abuse of immigration parole. I will keep working to strengthen our border security.
What do you see as the top problem facing Nebraskans?
High prices are the top concern I hear from Nebraskans. Compared to 2021, the average Nebraska household is spending an extra $1,140 per month for the same goods and services. Runaway spending caused inflation and high prices. Using my experience as governor, I'm fighting to control spending in D.C. I also want people to keep more of their income. I am working to renew the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. I am also working to cut taxes on Social Security benefits, veterans benefits and tipped income.
What role should the federal government play in regulating access to abortion, contraception and fertility treatments?
I believe every life has dignity. The Dobbs v. Jackson decision gave citizens the right to protect women and children. Nebraskans will have that opportunity in November. I support protecting our current law that limits abortion after the first trimester with exceptions for rape, incest and the mother’s life. As governor, I supported pro-life legislation while ensuring our laws protected IVF. Federal action on contraception is unnecessary. I oppose fear-mongering by Democrats on these issues.
How should the federal government handle undocumented immigrants already in this country?
The Biden-Harris administration’s policies have incentivized 11 million illegal border-crossing attempts. The first priority is securing our border. We must reinstate “Remain in Mexico,†finish the border wall and enforce our laws. People in our country illegally must return home. We can’t reward those here illegally with voting rights or taxpayer-funded benefits. It would uproot our elections and cost taxpayers trillions. It is a matter of fairness for citizens and people who entered legally.