2024 United States Senate special election in Nebraska
County resultsRicketts: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%Love: 50–60%
The 2024 United States Senate special election in Nebraska was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the Class 2 member of the United States Senate from Nebraska , to complete the term of Ben Sasse , who resigned on January 8, 2023, to become the president of the University of Florida .[ 1] On January 12, 2023, Governor Jim Pillen appointed Republican former governor Pete Ricketts to fill the seat until the election.[ 2] Ricketts won the special election, defeating Democratic nominee Preston Love Jr. with about 63% of the vote. This was the first time since 1954 where both of Nebraska's U.S. Senate seats were concurrently up for election. Primary elections took place on May 14, 2024.[ 3]
Ricketts outperformed other Republicans who faced contested statewide elections in this cycle.
Republican Pete Ricketts , former governor of Nebraska (2015–2023) and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2006 , was appointed on January 12, 2023.[ 2]
Applied to be appointed [ edit ]
In total, 111 individuals submitted applications for Sasse's seat, and nine candidates were interviewed by Pillen.[ 4] Applicants included:
Ann Ashford, attorney, widow of former U.S. Representative Brad Ashford , and candidate for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in 2020 [ 5] (Democratic)
Tom Becka , radio personality[ 6] [ 4] (Independent)
Larry Bolinger, author and perennial candidate[ 4] [ 7] (Republican)
Sid Dinsdale , bank president and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 [ 6] (Republican)
Greg Ibach , former Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (2017–2021) and former Nebraska Director of Agriculture (2005–2017)[ 6] (Republican)
Brett Lindstrom , state senator from the 18th district (2015–2023), candidate for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in 2012 and for governor of Nebraska in 2022 [ 6] (Republican)
Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Republican candidate for governor of Nebraska in 2014 [ 6] (Independent)
Melanie Standiford, former KNOP-TV news director[ 8] (Republican)
John Glen Weaver, U.S. Air Force veteran and candidate for Nebraska's 1st congressional district in 2022 [ 1] (Republican)
Eliminated in primary [ edit ]
Campaign finance reports as of April 24, 2024
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Pete Ricketts (R)
$3,507,567
$2,076,443
$1,431,125
John Glen Weaver (R)
$52,789
$36,280
$16,509
Source: Federal Election Commission [ 16]
Results by county: 60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
>90%
Preston Love Jr.
State legislators
Party officials
Labor unions
Campaign finance reports as of April 24, 2024
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Preston Love Jr. (D)
$127,850
$119,254
$8,595
Source: Federal Election Commission [ 16]
Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2024
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Pete Ricketts (R)
$4,294,715
$2,586,199
$1,708,516
Preston Love Jr. (D)
$164,288[ b]
$157,747
$6,542
Source: Federal Election Commission [ 16]
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size[ c]
Margin of error
Pete Ricketts (R)
Preston Love Jr. (D)
Undecided
Economist/YouGov
October 21–28, 2024
1,202 (LV)
± 3.5%
54%
36%
7%
NYT/Siena College
October 23–26, 2024
1,194 (LV)
± 3.2%
56%
38%
6%
1,194 (RV)
± 3.1%
56%
37%
7%
SurveyUSA [ A]
October 9–12, 2024
563 (LV)
± 4.7%
53%
37%
9%
SurveyUSA [ A]
September 20–23, 2024
558 (LV)
± 4.8%
53%
35%
12%
SurveyUSA [ B]
August 23–27, 2024
1,293 (RV)
± 3.6%
50%
33%
16%
By congressional district [ edit ]
Ricketts won all 3 congressional districts.[ 30]
^ In January 2023, Ricketts was appointed by Governor Jim Pillen to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Ben Sasse , who had become the president of University of Florida .
^ $58,832 of this total was self-funded by Love Jr.
^ Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
Partisan clients
^ a b Hammel, Paul (December 5, 2022). "Ben Sasse makes it official, will resign U.S. Senate seat Jan. 8" . Nebraska Examiner . Retrieved December 6, 2022 .
^ a b Bradner, Eric (January 12, 2023). "Nebraska Gov. Pillen appoints Pete Ricketts to Sasse's Senate seat" . CNN .
^ "2024 State Primary Election Dates" . www.ncsl.org . Retrieved August 6, 2023 .
^ a b c Stoddard, Martha; Bamer, Erin (January 12, 2023). "Pillen appoints former Gov. Pete Ricketts to U.S. Senate" . Omaha World-Herald . Retrieved January 13, 2023 .
^ Hammel, Paul (December 12, 2022). "Democrat Ann Ashford is among applicants to fill vacancy in U.S. Senate" . Nebraska Examiner . Retrieved December 12, 2022 .
^ a b c d e Sanderford, Aaron (January 10, 2023). "Ricketts, Lindstrom, Dinsdale, Slone, Ashford among Nebraska U.S. Senate applicants" . Nebraska Examiner . Retrieved January 10, 2023 .
^ Mastre, Brian (December 15, 2022). "Nebraska Senate candidates feeling optimistic as Pillen mulls appointment" . WOWT . Retrieved January 13, 2023 .
^ KRVN News (December 7, 2022). "West-central Nebraska journalist applies for U.S. Senate seat" . KRVN . Retrieved December 30, 2022 .
^ Everett, Burgess (January 12, 2023). "Ricketts tapped to fill Nebraska's open Senate seat" . Politico . Retrieved January 12, 2023 .
^ "Nebraska Statewide Candidate List" . Nebraska Secretary of State. January 5, 2024.
^ "Lt. Col. (ret.) John Glen Weaver running for Nebraska's open Class II U.S. Senate seat" . Nebraska Television Network . February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023 .
^ Emilee (July 19, 2023). "Americans for Prosperity Action Announces First Wave of Endorsements in 2024 U.S. Senate Races" . Americans for Prosperity Action. Retrieved July 19, 2023 .
^ NRA-PVF. "NRA-PVF | Grades | Nebraska" . NRA-PVF . Retrieved May 6, 2024 .
^ "Ricketts Endorsed by Nebraska Farm Bureau" . KRVN . February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024 .
^ Sanderford, Aaron (January 27, 2024). "Nebraska GOP fight with delegation spills over into its endorsements" . Nebraska Examiner . Retrieved January 28, 2024 .
^ a b c "2024 Election United States Senate - Nebraska" . fec.gov . Federal Election Commission . Retrieved August 5, 2024 .
^ a b "Official Results: Primary Election - May 14, 2024" (PDF) . Secretary of State of Nebraska . Retrieved June 17, 2024 .
^ Sanderford, Aaron (January 11, 2023). "Democrat Preston Love, a North Omaha advocate, to run for U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts' seat" . Nebraska Examiner . Retrieved January 11, 2023 .
^ Sanderford, Aaron (July 14, 2023). "Democrat Paul Theobald decides not to challenge Sen. Pete Ricketts; Republican Herbster still mulling his options" . Nebraska Examiner . Retrieved July 15, 2023 .
^ a b Beck, Margery A. (January 17, 2024). "Nebraska Democrats back Omaha activist Preston Love Jr. to challenge Ricketts for US Senate seat" . Midland Daily News . Retrieved January 17, 2024 .
^ "Our Recommended Candidates" . Education Votes . Retrieved May 13, 2024 .
^ "2024 Senate Race ratings" . The Cook Political Report . Retrieved January 25, 2023 .
^ "Senate Ratings" . Inside Elections . January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023 .
^ "2024 Senate" . Sabato's Crystal Ball . January 24, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023 .
^ "2024 Senate prediction map" . elections2024.thehill.com/ . The Hill . June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024 .
^ "Election Ratings" . Elections Daily . August 1, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023 .
^ " '24 Senate Forecast" . CNalysis . Retrieved November 21, 2023 .
^ "2024 Senate Forecast" . Split Ticket . Retrieved October 23, 2024 .
^ "2024 Election Forecast" . FiveThirtyEight . Retrieved October 23, 2024 .
^ https://x.com/TheDrewSav/status/1856457586045796636
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