Brad Ashford speaks to journalists after voting in Omaha in 2018. He said he might launch a write-in campaign for Sen. Ben Sasse's Senate seat if the embattled Democratic candidate Chris Janicek doesn't withdraw.
Republican Sen. Ben Sasse announced Monday he has agreed to a televised debate with embattled Democratic Senate nominee Chris Janicek of Omaha, touching off a scramble that could draw former Democratic Rep. Brad Ashford into the contest as a write-in candidate.
Janicek has been disowned by Democratic Party leadership after authoring a sexually-charged group text message that included a reference to encouraging sex acts with a female staff member in his campaign.
State party leaders quickly demanded that Janicek withdraw as a candidate while expressing their support for Alisha Shelton of Omaha, who finished third in the Democratic primary race in May, filling in as his successor on the ballot.
With Janicek vowing to stay in the race and Shelton ineligible to run as a write-in candidate if he refuses to withdraw, Ashford said he'll step in and mount a write-in campaign if Janicek does not leave the race by Sept. 1.
Ashford represented metropolitan Omaha's 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2015 to 2017 and is a former state senator.
Sasse's announcement that he has agreed to debate Janicek on the live statewide telecast on NET on Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. touched off Monday's round of political reaction.Â
Sasse, who is seeking a second term, said it will be the only Senate debate.
Brad Ashford speaks to journalists after voting in Omaha in 2018. He said he might launch a write-in campaign for Sen. Ben Sasse's Senate seat if the embattled Democratic candidate Chris Janicek doesn't withdraw.