Pete Ricketts — Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate in Nebraska, 2026

Senator Pete Ricketts supports funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and emphasizes securing the border. He highlights congressional actions such as funding the border wall, training federal immigration officers, and authorizing more immigration judges to address backlogs. Ricketts also links these efforts to ending illegal immigration and enhancing community safety, while criticizing efforts to reduce immigration enforcement.

“We promised to end illegal immigration. We’re delivering and making Nebraska streets safer. Congress provided funding to complete the border wall and train more federal immigration officers. We authorized more immigration judges to address the backlog of cases." — Senator Pete Ricketts (ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/, February 26, 2026)”

Pete Ricketts supports affordable healthcare for all Nebraskans, including veterans and those in rural areas. He backs the CARING for Our Veterans and MIND Our Veterans legislation and a $50 billion fund for rural healthcare grants. He also supports strengthening Medicaid for eligible populations by closing enrollment loopholes and introduced the HEALTH Panel Act for CBO transparency. He has opposed medical cannabis initiatives and abortion.

“We’re also going to fight for affordable health care. Whether veterans or civilians, rural or urban, all Nebraskans deserve a high standard of care. That’s why I am fighting to improve veteran care with my CARING for Our Veterans and MIND Our Veterans legislation. We also created a $50 billion fund for rural health care grants.”

Senator Pete Ricketts supports energy independence through responsible use of natural resources, including fossil fuels and renewable fuels like ethanol, stating it bolsters rural economies and saves consumers money. He praised the EPA for rescinding the Endangerment Finding, asserting it had raised costs on businesses and its removal provides economic relief. Ricketts has a 2% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters, and he opposes mandates such as expanded Waters of the United States definitions and those forcing a transition to electric vehicles. He also opposed the Clean Power Plan and supported the Keystone XL Pipeline.

“The Obama-Biden EPA was a rogue agency. Yesterday’s elimination of the Obama-Biden Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding marks the single greatest deregulatory action in U.S. history. It consistently raised costs on farmers, ranchers, and small business owners across the country. Rescinding the Endangerment Finding provides economic relief for Nebraskan consumers, producers, and manufacturers. This commonsense action restores rule of law to the EPA, and it will return over a trillion dollars back to American’s wallets. — U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts, Press Release, February 13, 2026”

Pete Ricketts has supported restrictive abortion measures, including funding a competing abortion ban petition in Nebraska. He stated his support for the "Protect Women and Children ballot initiative," noting that Nebraska's abortion limits reflect a culture of life and protect Nebraska values. He also backed a 13-week abortion initiative as a counter-proposal to one aiming to put abortion rights into the state constitution.

““Nebraska’s commonsense abortion limits reflect our state’s strong culture of life,” Ricketts said in a statement. “I support the Protect Women and Children ballot initiative because it protects Nebraska values and is a contrast to the extreme initiative the abortion lobby is pushing.””

Pete Ricketts has expressed concern regarding China's expanding influence, aiming to prevent it from becoming the leading world superpower by 2049. He supports modernizing and strengthening America's nuclear deterrent, including investments in the Sentinel ICBM weapon system. Ricketts advocates for a strong military, close cooperation with allies, and increased defense investments as critical to national security and deterring adversaries.

“We got to push back on China. They’re a big threat to our way of life. Communist China wants to replace us as a world power, and I’ve got a number of bills that will be able to do that.” - Sen. Pete Ricketts, KLKNTV”

Pete Ricketts supports school choice, emphasizing parental rights and tailored education options for students. He co-sponsored the 2026 National School Choice Week Resolution to promote diverse educational opportunities. As Governor, he proposed $4 million for private school opportunity scholarships and committed to fully funding K-12 education, stating, “We must continue to invest in the next generation of Nebraskans.” He also opposed Common Core.

“The quality of a child’s education should not depend on their zip code.” (Senator Pete Ricketts, weekly column highlighting School Choice Week, ricketts.senate.gov)”

Pete Ricketts opposes expanding gun laws, asserting that Nebraska is a "pro-Second Amendment state." He declared Nebraska a Second Amendment sanctuary state and has stated that mental health issues, not firearms, are at the root of most mass shootings. He blocked a bill aimed at banning bump stocks and opposes red flag laws.

““In the wake of recent tragedies in Atlanta and Boulder, President Biden is attempting to build momentum for new gun control measures,” said Governor Ricketts. “The President should work to address underlying issues in the community rather than limit our right to bear arms, which is protected in the U.S. Constitution. Banning guns will not solve the underlying problems that have resulted in these tragedies. Nebraska is a pro-Second Amendment state, and we will stand up against any attempt by the federal government to expand gun laws and impede our freedoms.” (Pete Ricketts, WOWT, March 25, 2021)”