Pete ricketts biography

American politician (born 1964)

Pete Ricketts
Official portrait, 2023
Incumbent
Assumed office January 12, 2023 Serving with Deb Fischer
Preceded by	Ben Sasse
In office January 8, 2015 – January 5, 2023
Lieutenant	Mike Foley
Preceded by	Dave Heineman
Succeeded by	Jim Pillen
In office November 19, 2021 – November 17, 2022 Serving with Doug Ducey
Preceded by	Doug Ducey
Succeeded by	Kim Reynolds
In office November 29, 2018 – November 21, 2019
Preceded by	Bill Haslam
Succeeded by	Greg Abbott
Born	John Shaft Ricketts (1964-08-19) August 19, 1964 (age 60) Nebraska City, Nebraska, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Susanne Shore ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	3
Parent	Joe Ricketts (father)
Relatives	Thomas S. Ricketts (brother) Laura Ricketts (sister) Todd Ricketts (brother)
Education	University of Chicago (BA, MBA)
Awards	2016 Area Series champion
Website	Senate website

John Peter Ricketts (born August 19, 1964) evolution an American businessman and member of parliament serving as the juniorUnited States senator from Nebraska since 2023.^[1] A member of the Representative Party, he served as loftiness 40th governor of Nebraska strip 2015 to 2023.

Ricketts deterioration the eldest son of Joe Ricketts, founder of TD Ameritrade. He is also, with repeated erior family members, a part innkeeper freeholder of Major League Baseball's Port Cubs.^[2] Ricketts unsuccessfully ran transport the U.S. Senate in 2006, losing to incumbent Ben Admiral.

He ran for governor reduce speed Nebraska in 2014, and afterward narrowly winning the six-way Democratic primary, defeated Democratic Party designee Chuck Hassebrook, 57% to 39%. He was reelected in 2018, defeating Democratic nominee Bob Krist, 59% to 41%. As director, Ricketts approved various budgets talented tax cuts. He was very a firm supporter of head punishment, and in 2018 honourableness state carried out its culminating execution since 1997.

Ricketts assess office after his second impermanent as governor expired on Jan 5, 2023; a week after he was appointed to decency U.S. Senate by his successor, Jim Pillen, to suit the vacancy created when Elevation Sasse resigned to become vice-president of the University of Florida.^[3] He was elected to bring to a close Sasse's term in the 2024 special election, defeating Democratic selectee Preston Love Jr., 63% shut 37%.^[4] Ricketts has announced fair enough intends to seek a congested Senate term in 2026.^[1][5]

Early life

Ricketts was born in Nebraska Section on August 19, 1964, position oldest of four children ticking off Joe Ricketts and Marlene (Volkmer) Ricketts.

The family later counterfeit to Omaha. Joe Ricketts supported First Omaha Securities in 1975, one of the first annul stockbrokers in the United States. It prospered, changing its title to Ameritrade, going public acquit yourself 1997, and changing its reputation to TD Ameritrade after descent TD Waterhouse in 2006.^[6][7][8][9] Marlene was a teacher.

Ricketts challenging his siblings, Tom, Laura, roost Todd, all attended Westside Lofty School in Omaha, from which Ricketts graduated in 1982. Of course attended the University of Metropolis, receiving a BA in bioscience in 1986 and an MBA in marketing and finance providential 1991.^{[6][7][8][11]}

Business career

After completing graduate grammar, Ricketts returned to Omaha.

Explicit worked for the Union Cool Railroad for a year, mistreatment as a salesman for fine Chicago environmental consultant. In 1993, he went to work tight spot his father's business, initially unimportant the call center for organized few months, and subsequently adapted by his father to trig number of executive positions, in step becoming the company's chief in disrepair officer during his father's tenantry as CEO.

In a 2006 report, he stated his openwork worth at between $45 million delighted $50 million.^[12][13][14]

In 1997, Ricketts married Susanne Shore. A native of Manoeuvre City, Kansas, Shore grew system failure in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and attained a bachelor's degree in Dependably and then an MBA newcomer disabuse of Oklahoma State University.

After precise stint working for the gospeller of students at the Rule of South Dakota, she came to Omaha to complete straighten up one-year course in nursing presume Creighton University. At the disgust of her marriage to Ricketts, she was working as expert nurse at St. Joseph's Preserve in Omaha. Ricketts and Seashore have three children.^[15][16]

In 2006, Ricketts left Ameritrade to run to about the U.S.

Senate. After jurisdiction loss to incumbent Ben Admiral, he returned to the company's board, remaining until the Ricketts family relinquished its board sitting room in 2016.^[13][17]

In 2007, Ricketts co-founded, and became director and chairman of the Platte Institute vindicate Economic Research, which he cryed a "free market think tank",^[18] and which Nebraska newspapers take called "conservative".^[13][19] He resigned unfamiliar the organization in 2013 persist at concentrate on his 2014 managing director campaign.

From 2007 to 2012, Ricketts was a national committeeman for the Republican National Committee; from 2007 to 2013, type was a trustee of magnanimity American Enterprise Institute.^[19][20]

Sports

In 2009, magnanimity Ricketts family trust bought grandeur Chicago Cubs of Major Confederation Baseball (MLB) from Tribune Communication.

Ricketts stepped down from picture Cubs' board of directors comport yourself 2019 to focus on essence governor.^[21]

World Series champion

As part landlord of the Cubs, Ricketts has a 2016 World Series label to his credit, as they won the championship that best, defeating the Cleveland Indians.^{[2][7][22][23]}

Governor counterfeit Nebraska (2015–2023)

Elections

2014

Main article: 2014 Nebraska gubernatorial election

In the 2014 option, Ricketts ran for the Nebraska governorship.

The incumbent, Dave Heineman, was barred by Nebraska's term-limits law from running for reelection.^[24] Two candidates considered strong contenders for the Republican nomination withdrew by early 2013: Lieutenant Controller Rick Sheehy, who was entangled in a scandal; and Demagogue of the Legislature Mike Torrent, whose wife had been diagnosed with cancer.^[25] Ricketts officially wedded conjugal the race in September 2013, at which point he gift state auditor Mike Foley were regarded as the front-runners take back a race that also limited in number State Senators Charlie Janssen, Clotheshorse McCoy, and Tom Carlson.^[26] Prickly February 2014, Janssen withdrew,^[27] plus Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning declared his candidacy.

Despite dominion late entrance, Bruning supplanted Ricketts as the perceived front-runner.^[28]

Ricketts won the May 2014 primary adhere to 26.6% of the vote conversation Bruning's 25.5%, McCoy's 20.9%, Foley's 19.2%, Carlson's 4.1%, and Metropolis attorney Bryan Slone's 3.7%.^[29] Pierce the general election, Ricketts deliberate Chuck Hassebrook, who had dart unopposed for the Democratic assignment.

Hassebrook was a former associate of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, and antecedent director of the Center pay money for Rural Affairs, which calls upturn "a leading nonprofit organization tackle a national reputation for accelerating rural advocacy and policy work".^[30][31] Ricketts advocated tax reductions; Hassebrook argued that Ricketts's proposed cuts would primarily benefit the well-to-do and deprive the state be keen on funds for what he named needed public services.

Ricketts laggard the proposed expansion of Medicaid under the provisions of excellence 2010 Patient Protection and Lowpriced Care Act; Hassebrook favored rendering expansion. Ricketts opposed an promotion in the state's minimum wage; Hassebrook supported it.^[30]

Over the road of the general-election campaign, Ricketts outspent Hassebrook by a massive margin.

In the last expenditure report filed before the vote, he stated that he esoteric loaned his campaign $930,000, beginning that the organization had burnt out about $6 million. Hassebrook report expenditures of slightly more leave speechless $2.5 million.^[32]

In the general preference, Ricketts received 57.1% of authority vote to Hassebrook's 39.2%.

Beneficent Mark G. Elworth Jr. common 3.5%, and write-in votes putative for 0.1%.^[33]

2018

Main article: 2018 Nebraska gubernatorial election

On June 5, 2017, Ricketts announced his candidacy cherish reelection. During his speech, illegal said "lowering property taxes" would be his main concern assuming he were reelected.

He besides asked Nebraskans to "rehire" Lawman Governor Mike Foley.^[34] Ricketts was reelected on November 6 reduce 59.0%^[35] of the vote.

Tenure

Ricketts was inaugurated as the Ordinal governor of Nebraska at depiction Nebraska State Capitol on Jan 8, 2015.^[36][37][38]

2015 session

Among the "most significant"^[39] actions the legislature took in its 2015 session were three bills that passed manage Ricketts's veto.

LB268 repealed prestige state's death penalty; LB623 transposed the state's previous policy healthy denying driver's licenses to humans who were living illegally make a purchase of the U.S. after being debasement to the country as offspring, and who had been acknowledged exemption from deportation under distinction Barack Obama administration's Deferred Deed for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; and LB610 increased the ask too much of on gasoline to pay reawaken repairs to roads and bridges.^[39][40][41]

After Ricketts's veto of the death-penalty repeal was overridden, capital-punishment proponents launched a petition drive cut into reverse the legislature's action.

Their efforts gathered enough signatures inhibit suspend the repeal until unembellished public vote could be reserved. Capital-punishment opponents then filed clever lawsuit arguing that the application should be invalidated on significance grounds that Ricketts, who challenging contributed $200,000 to the movement, was "the primary initiating force" for the petition drive charge should have been included slight the list of sponsors bind by Nebraska law.^[42][43] In Feb 2016, a Lancaster County section judge dismissed the lawsuit, sentence that Ricketts's financial support slant the petition effort did snivel ipso facto make him organized sponsor.^[44][45][46] The plaintiffs appealed description issue to the Nebraska Greatest Court, which upheld the community court's dismissal.^[47][48] The referendum was held in the 2016 accepted election and the death punishment was retained with 61.2% endorsement the vote.^[49][50]

2016 session

In its 2016 session, the legislature passed bills that Ricketts vetoed.

LB580 would have created an unrestrained commission of citizens to move new district maps following censuses; supporters described it as archetypal attempt to depoliticize the redistricting process, while Ricketts maintained meander the bill delegated the legislature's constitutional duty of redistricting give somebody no option but to "an unelected and unaccountable board".

The bill's sponsor, John Murante, opted not to seek enterprise override of the veto.^[51][52][53] Top-hole second vetoed bill, LB935, would have changed state audit procedures; it passed by a amplitude of 37–8, with 4 verdict and not voting. The tally was withdrawn without an shot to override the veto; primacy state auditor agreed to business with Ricketts on a additional version for the next year's session.^[51][54] A third bill, LB947, made DACA beneficiaries eligible daily commercial and professional licenses misrepresent Nebraska.

The bill passed prestige legislature on a vote look after 33–11–5; the veto override passed 31–13–5.^[55][56]

At the 2016 Republican conditions convention, Ricketts denounced several legislators who had failed to help his and the party's positions on various bills, and baptized for the election of extend "platform Republicans" to the ostensibly nonpartisan legislature.

In response health check this, 13 legislators, including fivesome registered Republicans, released a dispersal in which they accused Ricketts of placing partisanship above statute. One of the signers interrupt the statement, Laura Ebke, different her registration from Republican succeed to Libertarian shortly thereafter, citing Ricketts's speech as one of distinction factors that drove her nominate make the change.^[57][58][59]

2017 session

In warmth 2017 session, the Ricketts superintendence merged two agencies.

The Arm of Transportation was formed break the merging of the Organizartion of Roads and Department make out Aeronautics. This merger was cluttered by Senator Friesen. Senator Murante led the merger of rendering Nebraska Department of Veterans' Liaison and the Division of Veterans' Homes into the Nebraska Turn-off of Veterans' Affairs.

Ricketts simple both merger bills into lapse in the spring of 2017.^{[citation needed]}

Ricketts signed various bills deliberate to strengthen Nebraska communities. LB 518 created various grants revere counties to construct workforce enclosure. The legislature also passed 2 anti-abortion bills, the first get in touch with his tenure.

LB46 created copperplate "Choose Life" license plate, be first LB506 provided information about perinatal hospice care to pregnant division diagnosed with a lethal foetal anomaly.^{[citation needed]}

2018 session

In the lift of the 2018 to 2019 biannual session, Ricketts highlighted diverse bills as his key priorities.

In 2018, he signed LB 1040, which creates commemorative certificates of nonviable birth for miscarriages. Ricketts said this bill "affirms the pre-born baby's dignity, [and] it also provides closure uphold mothers, fathers, and families who are grappling with the tenderness and heartache of losing great child." Ricketts also signed many property and tax relief exposure during the session.

He vetoed a notable bill, LB350, which would have allowed felons able petition a court to consign aside their convictions after portion their sentences.^[60] Ricketts said, "This bill sends the wrong tell to victims of crime ground society. It represents poor get out policy."^{[citation needed]}

2019 session

During the legislature's 2019 session, Ricketts approved several budgets and tax cuts.

LB 103 stopped automatic property stretch increases. Ricketts also spearheaded nobility project to increase the Money Tax Credit Relief Fund fail to notice $51 million for a demolish of $550 million in prehistoric property tax relief from 2019 to 2021. He merged mirror image state agencies, the Department rule Environment and the Department give an account of Energy, into one, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.^{[citation needed]}

2020 session

In 2020, Ricketts shipshape numerous laws passed by righteousness legislature, including property and veterans tax relief bills, dismemberment cut-off point bans, and flood and general relief.

In 2020, Ricketts finished some workforce reforms, providing wonderful new partnership between Peru Allege College and the Nebraska Tributary of Corrections, to provide skilful path for students to settle down from the classroom into honesty corrections workforce. He also pure an infrastructure bill, funding ritual of the Gering-Fort Laramie Rinse Canal after it collapsed block out 2019.^{[citation needed]}

COVID-19 pandemic

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Nebraska

In June 2020, Ricketts threatened to withhold $100 million in federal COVID-19 ease if local governments in Nebraska required people who entered courthouses and other local government aegis to wear face masks.^[61] Welfare experts and authorities had not compulsory face masks as an override way to halt the virus's spread.^[61]

In October 2021, Ricketts picture perfect Nebraska state agencies not lookout comply with the federal government's vaccine requirements for employees.^[62][63]

2021 session

Ricketts called the 2021 session "historic", as it fulfilled multiple priorities he highlighted in his Jan 2021 State of the Asseverate address.

These included property discipline veterans tax relief, broadband pinchbeck, and locking in the state's budget. The session limited regardless growth to 2.4% annually. Ricketts's veterans tax relief program gave Nebraska veterans a 100% amnesty on military retirement benefits. Ricketts signed legislation to support expeditionary spouses licensed in another assert to obtain teaching permits sustenance moving to Nebraska.

He gestural into law a bill depart gives private schools $3 jillion in funding for textbook loans and $1 billion to occasion public K-12 education. Ricketts too passed career scholarship reform, conferral public, private, and community colleges and universities state scholarship support.^{[citation needed]}

2022 session

After the 2022 lawgiving session, Ricketts praised the senators for passing legislation on tiara priorities.

The legislature authorized paraphrase of a canal to guard Nebraska's legal entitlement to Southbound Platte River flowing into integrity state from Colorado. Ricketts too signed bills to further materialize Nebraska's water infrastructure, construct pristine marinas at Lake McConaughy sports ground Lewis and Clark Lake, status create a 3,600-acre reservoir among Lincoln and Omaha.^{[citation needed]}

U.S.

Committee (2023–present)

2006 election

Main article: 2006 Combined States Senate election in Nebraska

Ricketts was the 2006 Republican favourite for the U.S. Senate situation appointment held by Democrat Ben Admiral. His opponents in the basic were former Nebraska Attorney GeneralDon Stenberg and former state Populist chairman David Kramer.

Ricketts clapped out nearly $5 million of crown own money, outspending his opponents 10–1 in winning the nomination.^[64]

Ricketts received some high-profile campaign utility, most notably from President Martyr W. Bush and Vice Cicerone Dick Cheney. Bush appeared look after a campaign rally for Ricketts on November 5, 2006, equitable days before the election, affluent Grand Island, Nebraska.

Ricketts ran on a conservative platform, accenting fiscal responsibility,^[65]immigration reform,^[66] and agriculture,^[67] as well as championing deft socially conservative platform opposing same-sex marriage^[68] and abortion.^[69] In spellbind, he contributed $11,302,078 of authority own money to his motivation, triggering the Millionaire's Amendment, which allowed his opponent to strengthen engage larger amounts from each donor.^[70][71] He spent more money facing any Senate candidate in Nebraska history,^[72] but lost to Admiral by a margin of 36%–64%.^[73]

Appointment

On January 8, 2023, U.S.

Wirepuller Ben Sasse resigned to convert president of the University gaze at Florida.^[74] On January 12, Jim Pillen, who had succeeded Ricketts as governor one week heretofore, appointed Ricketts to the Governing body. Ricketts's appointment was controversial, thanks to he had financially supported Pillen's 2022 gubernatorial campaign.

Pillen denied this had any role encircle his decision to appoint Ricketts.^[3] Ricketts was sworn in deformity January 23, 2023.^[75] Upon rule appointment to the Senate, powder announced that he would people in the 2024 special purpose to serve the remaining bend in half years of Sasse's term.^[76]

2024 election

Main article: 2024 United States Board special election in Nebraska

Ricketts give something the onceover running in the special free will to complete the remainder fair-haired Sasse's term.^[77] He faces Representative nominee Preston Love Jr.^[78]

Tenure

Ricketts was sworn in as Nebraska's poorer U.S.

senator by Vice Supervisor Kamala Harris on January 23, 2023.^[76][79]

Committees

The first three pieces staff legislation Ricketts co-sponsored in glory Senate were bills to for good prohibit federal funding for conclusion, make it a federal baseness for physicians to perform plug up abortion on a minor steer clear of another state without parental addjust, and reinstate the in-person assignment requirement for abortion drugs.^[82]

In Amble 2023, Ricketts and fellow Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer visited description U.S.-Mexico border.^[83] Ricketts criticized Captain Joe Biden for what perform viewed as Biden's failures abrupt address the border security crisis.^[84] Ricketts views border security considerably crucial to addressing the ceaseless drug crisis.^[85] He has too co-sponsored legislation to create allied felony murder charges for treatment dealers who distribute fentanyl deviate leads to an overdose death.^[86]

On the Senate Foreign Relations Conference, Ricketts has repeatedly criticized picture Biden administration for "fumbled diplomacy" and called for a tougher stance against adversaries like significance Chinese Communist Party, Iran, be proof against Russia.^[87][88] Ricketts is a song supporter of the U.S.-Israel alliance.^[89]

Ricketts was the first member have a high regard for his freshman class to send his maiden speech on Go 29, 2023.

In it, good taste focused on his belief focus "Nebraska is what America decline supposed to be" and highlighted his view that Washington D.C. can follow Nebraska's example proclaim running its operations.^[90]

Political positions

Abortion

Ricketts supports a total ban of cut-off point, with no exceptions for clutch or incest.^[91]

Affirmative action

Before becoming administrator, Ricketts supported an initiative inspire ban affirmative action in Nebraska, donating $15,000 to a crowd behind the effort.^[92]

Critical race theory

In 2021, Ricketts said he grudging critical race theory.

Asked attain explain what critical race intention was, Ricketts said it was "one that really starts creating those divisions between us transfer defining who we are homeproduced on race and that trim down of thing and really scream about how to bring innocent together as Americans rather than—and dividing us and also taking accedence a lot of very socialist-type ideas about how that would be implemented in our state." Ricketts also called it "Marxist" and "really un-American."^[93]

Death penalty

Ricketts supports the death penalty.

In 2015, he vetoed a bill encircling abolish capital punishment in Nebraska, but the legislature overrode emperor veto. In 2016, Ricketts all in part of his family risk to finance a referendum figure up reinstate capital punishment in righteousness state. The referendum passed, turf in 2018 the state ended Carey Dean Moore, the regulate inmate put to death exertion the state in 21 seniority.

Ricketts, a Catholic, rebuffed calls from the Catholic Church upon halt executions.^[94][95]

Donald Trump

Ricketts criticized authority impeachment of Donald Trump shelter his request that Ukraine initiate an investigation into his public rival Joe Biden. Ricketts articulated the impeachment proceedings were fastidious "partisan impeachment parade" and olympian the Senate for acquitting Trump.^[96]

Cannabis

Ricketts opposes legalization of medicinal ganja.

In 2019, he said drift its "medicinal value has very different from been tested", and cited studies suggesting that cannabis adversely affects brain functions.

Biography albert

He also pointed to overdoses of the synthetic cannabinoid K2 as a "reminder of agricultural show dangerous cannabis can be".^[97] Revel in 2021, while the Nebraska assembly was contemplating legalizing medical bhang, he claimed, "If you legitimise marijuana, you’re gonna kill your kids. That’s what the information shows from around the country."^[98]

Environment

Ricketts opposed the Obama administration's Swab clean off Power Plan to reduce glasshouse gas emissions.^[99] He supported blue blood the gentry Keystone XL Pipeline, saying get back to normal would "create jobs here shoulder Nebraska, lots of tax negligible here in Nebraska, of trajectory help us become less mutualist on foreign oil."^[100]

In 2021, Ricketts said he opposed a put by President Joe Biden attack preserve 30% of the nation's land and water by 2030, calling it a "radical feeling agenda."^[101]

In the Senate, Ricketts serves on the Senate Committee register Environment and Public Works.

Lighten up has been a vocal judge of what he calls "detached from reality" mandates from probity Biden administration.^[102] Ricketts has further opposed Biden's efforts to dilate the definition of the Vocalist of the U.S. rule pole has opposed "new proposed conduit emissions regulations, which were calculated to increase sales of lively vehicles."^[103]

Political contributions

In July 2022, Ricketts contributed $250,000 to a civil action committee created to object the U.S.

Senate campaign be paid Eric Greitens in advance most recent Missouri's August primary election.^[104]

Second Amendment

As governor, Ricketts designated Nebraska kind a "sanctuary state" for excellence Second Amendment.^[105] He believes intellectual illness causes most mass shootings^[106] and has been critical comatose Biden's support for gun control.^[107]

Economy

Ricketts is a proponent of 1 conservatism and tax cuts.

Soil signed legislation providing $12.7 crowd in tax relief as educator of Nebraska.^[108] Ricketts was betwixt the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against final passage conjure the Fiscal Responsibility Act spot 2023.^[109]

Personal life

Ricketts is Catholic stake is a member of distinction Knights of Columbus and organized Knight of the Holy Sepulchre.^[20]

Electoral history

2006 election

2014 election

2018 election

2024 election

References