The 2024 United States Senate special election in Nebraska will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect the Class 2 member of the United States Senate from Nebraska , to complete the term of Ben Sasse , who resigned on January 8, 2023, to become the president of the University of Florida .[1] On January 12, 2023, governor Jim Pillen appointed Republican former governor Pete Ricketts to fill the seat for the remainder of the 118th United States Congress and the beginning of the 119th Congress .[2] Ricketts has committed to running in the special election and for a full term in 2026 .[3] This marks the first time since 1954 where both of Nebraska's U.S. Senate seats were concurrently for election. Primary elections took place on May 14, 2024.[4]
2024 United States Senate special election in Nebraska
Republican Pete Ricketts , former governor of Nebraska (2015–2023) and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2006 , was appointed on January 12, 2023.[2]
Applied to be appointed
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In total, 111 individuals submitted applications for Sasse's seat, and nine candidates were interviewed by Pillen.[5] Applicants included:
Ann Ashford, attorney, widow of former U.S. Representative Brad Ashford , and candidate for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in 2020 [6] (Democratic)
Tom Becka , radio personality[7] [5] (Independent)
Larry Bolinger, author and perennial candidate[5] [8] (Republican)
Sid Dinsdale , bank president and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 [7] (Republican)
Greg Ibach , former Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (2017–2021) and former Nebraska Director of Agriculture (2005–2017)[7] (Republican)
Brett Lindstrom , state senator from the 18th district (2015–2023), candidate for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in 2012 and for governor of Nebraska in 2022 [7] (Republican)
Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Republican candidate for governor of Nebraska in 2014 [7] (Independent)
Melanie Standiford, former KNOP-TV news director[9] (Republican)
John Glen Weaver, U.S. Air Force veteran and candidate for Nebraska's 1st congressional district in 2022 [1] (Republican)
Eliminated in primary
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Campaign finance reports as of April 24, 2024
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Pete Ricketts (R)
$3,507,567
$2,076,443
$1,431,125
John Glen Weaver (R)
$52,789
$36,280
$16,509
Source: Federal Election Commission [16]
Preston Love Jr.
State legislators
Party officials
Labor unions
Campaign finance reports as of April 24, 2024
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Preston Love Jr. (D)
$127,850
$119,254
$8,595
Source: Federal Election Commission [16]
Preston Love Jr. (D)
State legislators
Party officials
Labor unions
^ a b Hammel, Paul (December 5, 2022). "Ben Sasse makes it official, will resign U.S. Senate seat Jan. 8" . Nebraska Examiner . Retrieved December 6, 2022 .
^ a b Bradner, Eric (January 12, 2023). "Nebraska Gov. Pillen appoints Pete Ricketts to Sasse's Senate seat" . CNN .
^ a b Everett, Burgess (January 12, 2023). "Ricketts tapped to fill Nebraska's open Senate seat" . Politico . Retrieved January 12, 2023 .
^ "2024 State Primary Election Dates" . www.ncsl.org . Retrieved August 6, 2023 .
^ a b c Stoddard, Martha; Bamer, Erin (January 12, 2023). "Pillen appoints former Gov. Pete Ricketts to U.S. Senate" . Omaha World-Herald . Retrieved January 13, 2023 .
^ Hammel, Paul (December 12, 2022). "Democrat Ann Ashford is among applicants to fill vacancy in U.S. Senate" . Nebraska Examiner . Retrieved December 12, 2022 .
^ a b c d e Sanderford, Aaron (January 10, 2023). "Ricketts, Lindstrom, Dinsdale, Slone, Ashford among Nebraska U.S. Senate applicants" . Nebraska Examiner . Retrieved January 10, 2023 .
^ Mastre, Brian (December 15, 2022). "Nebraska Senate candidates feeling optimistic as Pillen mulls appointment" . WOWT . Retrieved January 13, 2023 .
^ KRVN News (December 7, 2022). "West-central Nebraska journalist applies for U.S. Senate seat" . KRVN . Retrieved December 30, 2022 .
^ "Nebraska Statewide Candidate List" . Nebraska Secretary of State. January 5, 2024.
^ "Lt. Col. (ret.) John Glen Weaver running for Nebraska's open Class II U.S. Senate seat" . Nebraska Television Network . February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023 .
^ Emilee (July 19, 2023). "Americans for Prosperity Action Announces First Wave of Endorsements in 2024 U.S. Senate Races" . Americans for Prosperity Action. Retrieved July 19, 2023 .
^ a b NRA-PVF. "NRA-PVF | Grades | Nebraska" . NRA-PVF . Retrieved May 6, 2024 .
^ "Ricketts Endorsed by Nebraska Farm Bureau" . KRVN . February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024 .
^ Sanderford, Aaron (January 27, 2024). "Nebraska GOP fight with delegation spills over into its endorsements" . Nebraska Examiner . Retrieved January 28, 2024 .
^ a b "2024 Election United States Senate - Nebraska" . fec.gov . Federal Election Commission . Retrieved August 11, 2023 .
^ a b "Official Results: Primary Election - May 14, 2024" (PDF) . Secretary of State of Nebraska . Retrieved June 17, 2024 .
^ Sanderford, Aaron (January 11, 2023). "Democrat Preston Love, a North Omaha advocate, to run for U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts' seat" . Nebraska Examiner . Retrieved January 11, 2023 .
^ Sanderford, Aaron (July 14, 2023). "Democrat Paul Theobald decides not to challenge Sen. Pete Ricketts; Republican Herbster still mulling his options" . Nebraska Examiner . Retrieved July 15, 2023 .
^ a b c d Beck, Margery A. (January 17, 2024). "Nebraska Democrats back Omaha activist Preston Love Jr. to challenge Ricketts for US Senate seat" . Midland Daily News . Retrieved January 17, 2024 .
^ a b "Our Recommended Candidates" . Education Votes . Retrieved May 13, 2024 .
^ "2024 Senate Race ratings" . The Cook Political Report . Retrieved January 25, 2023 .
^ "Senate Ratings" . Inside Elections . January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023 .
^ "2024 Senate" . Sabato's Crystal Ball . January 24, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023 .
^ "2024 Senate prediction map" . elections2024.thehill.com/ . The Hill . June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024 .
^ "Election Ratings" . Elections Daily . August 1, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023 .
^ " '24 Senate Forecast" . CNalysis . Retrieved November 21, 2023 .
^ Emilee (July 19, 2023). "Americans for Prosperity Action Announces First Wave of Endorsements in 2024 U.S. Senate Races" . Americans for Prosperity Action. Retrieved July 19, 2023 .
^ "Ricketts Endorsed by Nebraska Farm Bureau" . KRVN . February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024 .
Official campaign websites