Gov. Ricketts endorses Jim Pillen for Nebraska governor’s race

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) - Gov. Pete Ricketts formally endorsed a candidate Tuesday in the race to be his successor.

After months of speculation, Ricketts announced his endorsement of Jim Pillen ahead of “fly-around tour” promoting the gubernatorial candidate.

Thank you @GovRicketts for your endorsement of our campaign. As governor, I will work to continue growing our state and promoting our commonsense Nebraska values. pic.twitter.com/dndbkTBQ4h
— Jim Pillen (@jim_pillen) January 18, 2022

The university regent is flying around the state Tuesday with Ricketts, former Gov. Kay Orr, and former Nebraska Congressman and celebrated Husker football coach Dr. Tom Osborne. Following the endorsement announcement in Lincoln, campaign stops were planned in Norfolk, Kearney, and North Platte before concluding in Omaha.

Pillen is running in the Republican primary against Donna Nicole Carpenter, Michael Connely, Charles Herbster, Brett Lindstrom, Lela McNinch, Breland Ridenour, and Theresa Thibodeau. State Sen. Carol Blood announced her run for the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in September.

The primary election is set for May 10.

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Herbster, endorsed by former President Trump, expressed his disappointment with Ricketts’ endorsement selection on Tuesday:

“It is disappointing to me that Governor Ricketts is supporting a candidate who has a weak record on illegal immigration, who failed to stop Critical Race Theory from seeping into public universities and then voted to fund it with taxpayer dollars, and who has admitted to polluting our most precious resource, water.
I am running for governor because Nebraska needs a true conservative leader to carry on the America First agenda. I am the only candidate in the race who has the endorsement of President Donald J. Trump. And I am the only one who will promote strong economic policies to increase opportunity and prosperity across our state, fight against the liberal radicalization of our children’s education and our election system, and demand order on the border.
Like all Nebraska governors, Pete Ricketts is limited to two terms. In the year he has left, Ricketts should focus on serving the needs of Nebraska, not hand-picking his successor. No politician should choose the next governor; the voters should.”
Charles Herbster

Blood said the announcement was no surprise.

Thibodeau attacked Pillen’s record as a Nebraska Regent.

“Jim Pillen has solidified his place as an unqualified candidate and ineffective elected official. Governor Ricketts’ decision to endorse Jim Pillen is disappointing.
During his time on the Nebraska Board of Regents, Jim Pillen sat idly by while University of Nebraska Lincoln faculty members harassed and verbally abused conservative students. At the same time, Pillen had no problem contributing more than $25,000 to Nebraska's largest liberal education lobby. Jim Pillen failed to stop Critical Race Theory from entering Nebraska Universities and opened the floodgates for a divisive, destructive curriculum.
From polluting small towns with the sour stench of his hog operations and "making people prisoners in their own homes," Pillen's priority is profits, not the wellbeing of his neighbors.*
If Jim Pillen is incapable of keeping CRT out of our schools and making conservative students feel welcome at our universities, he is not fit to serve as Nebraska's next Governor.”
Theresa Thibodeau

Gov. Ricketts endorses Jim Pillen for Nebraska governor’s race

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