Nebraska GOP Gov. Pete Ricketts said he has no plans to appoint himself to Sen. Ben Sasse’s (R) seat if he resigns but did not rule out the possibility of accepting the position if the next governor taps him to serve in the role.
Speculation over who will succeed Sasse, a staunch conservative and vocal Trump critic, has swirled in Washington since news broke on Thursday that the Nebraska Republican may step down from his seat to serve as the next president of the University of Florida.
“The first I learned about Senator Sasse’s plan to resign from the United States Senate was yesterday, when he called to notify me. 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 said in a statement Friday.
SEN. BEN SASSE EXPECTED TO RESIGN TO BECOME UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA PRESIDENT
“It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as the governor of Nebraska. It is the greatest job in the world, and it will remain my number one focus for the remainder of my term,” he added.
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Ricketts, who is serving out his final months as governor, previously ran unsuccessfully for the upper chamber against former Sen. Ben Nelson (D) in 2006.
Under state law, the governor is tasked with appointing a successor to a lawmaker if he or she steps down prior to the end of their term.
