# Pete Ricketts ## Summary U.S. Senator from Nebraska since January 2023 — appointed by Gov. [[Jim Pillen]] (R) to replace [[Ben Sasse]] after Sasse resigned to become president of the University of Florida. Won a 2024 special election to complete Sasse's term. Former Governor of Nebraska (2015–2023). Son of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts; Ricketts family co-owns the Chicago Cubs. Senate Banking Committee; [[Senate Foreign Relations Committee]]. ## Career highlights - University of Chicago (BA, MBA) - TD Ameritrade executive (various roles); company founded by father Joe Ricketts - 2006 U.S. Senate nominee (R) — lost to Ben Nelson - Governor of Nebraska (2015–2023), two terms - Appointed to U.S. Senate January 2023 by Gov. Pillen - Won 2024 special election (completed Sasse's term through 2026) ## Senate career - Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee - Foreign Relations Committee - Agriculture Committee - Environment and Public Works Committee - Reliable R caucus vote; business-community profile; less media-forward than colleagues ## 2026: running for first full term See [[NE-Sen-2026]]. Cook shifted **Solid R → Likely R** on April 13, 2026 in response to Dan Osborn's independent candidacy. Osborn's 2024 narrow-loss performance (46.5% vs. Fischer, in a state Trump won by 20+) establishes viability. Nebraska Democrats have declined to field a candidate — deliberately clearing the lane for Osborn to consolidate the anti-Ricketts vote. ## Ricketts family political operation - Marlene Ricketts (mother) — major R donor, 2016 Trump contributor - Joe Ricketts (father) — major R donor, TD Ameritrade founder - Ricketts family co-owns Chicago Cubs (MLB) - Pete's brother Tom Ricketts — Cubs ownership principal - The family's national R-donor network and Cubs-brand visibility complicate Pete's populist messaging against Osborn ## Related KB entities - [[NE-Sen-2026]] — his 2026 race - TBD: [[Dan Osborn]] — independent challenger ## Sources - [Wikipedia — Pete Ricketts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Ricketts)