Lindsey Graham appears in Nebraska, promotes Gov Pete Ricketts for Senate days after Sasse resignation

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts issued a very carefully worded statement last week as to his ambitions to represent the state in the Senate after the resignation of Senator Ben Sasse. Those ambitions may have been put into sharper focus by Senator Lindsey Graham this weekend when he stopped in Nebraska to issue his endorsement for Ricketts to make a play for the seat.

Ricketts could appoint someone to the seat to finish Sasse's term, but Ricketts is term-limited in Lincoln, and the November 8 election will see an end to his governorship. 



Graham, standing among hay bales and sunshine, praised Ricketts for his conservative approach in the state.

Graham said Ricketts "may be moving to Washington for a few years," to applause from the crowd. "To the Ricketts family," he went on, "you're the American dream too."

"I didn't buy his dad's book," he said, "but I don't buy anybody's book, don't take it personal. But he told me his story, his father's story, and his family's story, and that's a story that could only happen in America."

"So Pete," he said, "I hope you'll think about it, sit down with your family and pray on it, and if that opportunity comes, maybe you can take the competency and the caring and the conservativism you've demonstrated here in Nebraska and bring it to help us in Washington. Think about it."

"The first I learned about Senator Sasse's plan to resign from the United States Senate was yesterday, when he called to notify me," Ricketts said. "If I choose to pursue the appointment, I will leave the appointment decision to the next governor and will follow the process established for all interested candidates."

Ricketts came under fire this summer for refusing to allow certain delegates to be credentialed at the Nebraska GOP convention. Six Republicans in the state who planned on attending were told they are were longer welcome to the convention headed by Ricketts. Those who were told they would not be seated were primarily Trump supporting delegates, though after backlash they were later credentialed.