Free Republic

Republican Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appointed his immediate predecessor Pete Ricketts on Thursday to serve two years of the term vacated by former Sen. Ben Sasse.“Gov. Ricketts assured me that no matter who calls for a different job, he is committed to the United States Senate,” Pillen said at a press conference. “No matter who calls him to be a vice president of the United States, who calls him to be … Secretary of State or any other thing, he’s committed to this seat; and he and Susanne have committed to winning elections at a minimum of 10 years, and...

The Nebraska Republican Party has decided to bar Matt Innis of Crete, an outspoken Donald Trump supporter who has been sharply critical of Gov. Pete Ricketts, from its state convention in Kearney this weekend. The decision has stirred traffic on Facebook and within GOP circles. Innis, a former Lancaster County Republican chairman who unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Ben Sasse in the 2020 GOP primary election and supported Charles Herbster in this year's Republican gubernatorial primary election, has aimed a steady stream of criticism at Ricketts on his Facebook page. Jim Pillen of Columbus, who won the GOP gubernatorial nomination in May,...

Former President Donald Trump’s political comeback suffered a blow in Nebraska after his choice for the GOP gubernatorial nomination was beaten in the primary by a hog farm owner. With almost all precincts reporting early Wednesday, Jim Pillen — who is also a veterinarian and a University of Nebraska regent — had 33.9% of the vote compared to 30.2% for Trump-endorsed Charles Herbster.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster and his campaign called accusations against him of sexual assault "libelous" and "100% false" in a statement Thursday afternoon, and accused political rivals Jim Pillen and Pete Ricketts of political dirty tricks. A report published Thursday by the Nebraska Examiner said eight women, including state Sen. Julie Slama, have alleged Herbster of sexual misconduct, with all of the incidents happening between 2017 and 2022. Slama confirmed the Examiner's account in a statement Thursday morning, saying she was touched inappropriately by Herbster during a Republican event in 2019.“I indirectly referenced the assault in a February 2022...

Earlier this month, the Omaha World-Herald reported that former Gov. Dave Heineman was considering running, a development confirmed by sources who have spoken with him. Heineman is not without Trump credentials. He was an honorary chair of Trump’s reelection campaign in Nebraska and sat on the board of directors of one of Herbster’s companies. And other contenders are already incorporating Trump into their early overtures to the electorate. In an introductory video for his campaign, Jim Pillen, a University of Nebraska regent and top tier primary contender, promised to “defend President Trump’s progress on growing our economy and fighting hard...