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Portrait of Pete RickettsPhoto: unitedstates.github.io

NE · Officeholder

Pete Ricketts

RU.S. Senator · Nebraska

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: U.S. Senate · Nebraska

Biography

Pete Ricketts is the Republican incumbent U.S. Senator from Nebraska. He worked for the family business that became Ameritrade, ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2006, served as Governor of Nebraska from 2015 to 2023, and was appointed to the Senate in January 2023. He won the 2024 special election for the seat and is seeking election again; according to Ballotpedia's summary of his campaign website, he campaigns on tax cuts, border security and government efficiency.[1][2][3][5]

Ricketts was born on August 19, 1964, in Nebraska City and raised in Omaha, the son of an entrepreneur and a school teacher. He graduated from Westside High School and then earned a bachelor's degree in biology in 1986 and an MBA in marketing and finance in 1991 from the University of Chicago.[3][5] After graduate school he returned to Omaha and worked for Union Pacific before joining his family's business, which eventually became Ameritrade, in 1993 as a customer services representative. His roles there included senior vice president of strategy and business development, senior vice president of marketing, president and chief operating officer.[1][3][5]

Ricketts founded Drakon LLC, which supports Nebraska entrepreneurs and startup companies, and was a past board member of TD Ameritrade and the Chicago Cubs. He and three siblings purchased the Cubs and Wrigley Field in 2009.[1][3][4] He left Ameritrade in 2006 to run for the U.S. Senate; he won the Republican primary and lost the general election to incumbent Democrat Ben Nelson. In 2007 he co-founded the Platte Institute for Economic Research.[5] He was sworn in as Nebraska's 40th Governor on January 8, 2015, succeeding Dave Heineman, and was re-elected in November 2018; Jim Pillen succeeded him in 2023. His Senate biography says he worked with the Legislature to deliver more than $12.7 billion in tax relief and cut the growth of state spending by more than half.[1][3]

Gov. Jim Pillen appointed Ricketts to the U.S. Senate on January 12, 2023, to fill the vacancy created by Ben Sasse's resignation, and he was sworn in on January 23, 2023. In the November 2024 special general election he defeated Preston Love Jr. (D), 62.6% to 37.4%.[1][3] Ricketts serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works, Foreign Relations, Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Budget committees.[3] According to his Senate biography, he serves on the board of the Mid-America Council of the Boy Scouts and as a director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation. He lives in Omaha with his wife, Susanne Shore, and they have three children.[3]

  1. 1.Pete Ricketts · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Pete Ricketts' 2026 campaign website, quoted verbatim · Pete Ricketts 2026 campaign website (via Ballotpedia) · 2026-07-13 Candidate's own words
  3. 3.About - Senator Pete Ricketts · U.S. Senate, Office of Sen. Pete Ricketts Official record
  4. 4.United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  5. 5.Pete Ricketts · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.

On the ballot

Full candidate research ›U.S. Senate · Nebraska ›

Also on the ballot for this seat

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Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 3 of 833 party-divided votes on file.

  • Paul Amdt. No. 4272; To eliminate funding for refugee and entrant assistance.

    A yes vote sought to adopt Amendment 4272 to H.R. 7148, which would eliminate funding for refugee and entrant assistance. (AI-written)

    What it does: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and provides continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homel…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 32–18

    Jan 30, 2026Official record ↗

  • Paul Amdt. No. 1266; To reduce the amount appropriated for the United States Agency for International Development.

    A yes vote adopted Paul Amendment 1266, to reduce the amount appropriated for the United States Agency for International Development. (AI-written)

    What it does: Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 This act provides continuing FY2025 appropriations for federal agencies and extends various expiring programs and authorities.

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 27–24

    Mar 14, 2025Official record ↗

  • Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to S. 2806; A bill to provide for automatic continuing appropriations.

    A yes vote ended debate on the motion to proceed to S. 2806, a bill providing automatic continuing appropriations if funding bills are not enacted, so the Senate could vote on taking it up (cloture, 3/5 needed). (AI-written)

    What it does: Eliminate Shutdowns Act This bill provides continuing appropriations to prevent a government shutdown if the appropriations bills for a fiscal year have not been enacted before the fiscal year begins and continuing ap…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 36–13

    Sep 29, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

PN1129 · U.S. SENATE

Confirmation: Keith Sonderling, of F.L., to be Secretary of Labor

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Nomination

Confirms Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Confirmed 47–41·Substantive·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
PN1129 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Invoke Cloture: Keith Sonderling to be Secretary of Labor

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Cloture Motion

A yes vote ended debate (cloture) so the Senate could move to a final vote on the nomination of Keith Sonderling to be Secretary of Labor. (AI-written)

Agreed to 53–47·Procedural·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 9340 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 9340; A bill to amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish a Federal standard relating to the recovery of the full, incremental costs of upgrades that serve large-load customers, and for other purposes.

YesVOTED

Motion: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed

A yes vote would have ended debate on whether the Senate should begin considering H.R. 9340, a bill setting a federal standard on recovering the costs of upgrades serving large-load electricity customers (cloture on the motion to proceed). (AI-written)

Ratepayer Protection Act The bill requires state utility regulators and nonregulated utilities to consider implementing a standard to hold certain large-load customers responsible for the costs associated with any generation, transmission, or distribution upgrade of electric service necessary to serve such customers.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 57–43·Procedural·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 7008 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: H.R. 7008; A bill to amend chapter 131 of title 5 to require certain restrictions on stocks for Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents, and for other purposes.

YesVOTED

Motion: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed

A yes vote would have ended debate on whether the Senate should begin considering H.R. 7008, a bill requiring certain restrictions on stocks held by Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents (cloture on the motion to proceed). (AI-written)

Stop Insider Trading Act This bill generally prohibits Members of Congress and their spouses and dependent children from purchasing stocks and requires public notice before these individuals may sell stocks.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 53–47·Procedural·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
S.Res. 852 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Discharge S. Res. 852; A resolution requesting information on Israel's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Motion to Discharge

A yes vote would have discharged S.Res. 852, requesting information on Israel's human rights practices under section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, from committee so the Senate could consider it. (AI-written)

As introduced, requests that the Secretary of State give Congress, within 30 days, a statement on Israel's human rights practices, including information on alleged killings of U.S. citizens by Israeli forces or settlers since 2022, Americans held in Israeli prisons and detained Palestinian children.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 47–51·Procedural·Sep 29, 2026Roll call ↗
S.J.Res. 197 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Proceed to S.J. Res. 197; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027; and Basic Health Program".

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Motion to Proceed

A yes vote would have moved the Senate to take up S.J.Res. 197, a resolution to disapprove the CMS rule on the 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters and the Basic Health Program. (AI-written)

Overturns the federal health agency's 2027 rule setting payment parameters and standards for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, including insurer user fees, broker rules, hardship exemptions and catastrophic-plan options, so the rule has no legal effect.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 48–51·Procedural·Sep 29, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

S. 4668, as amended; A bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes.

YesVOTED

Motion: On Passage of the Bill

Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 77–22·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

Booker Amdt. No. 6835; To establish certain standards with respect to coaches of varsity sports teams.

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6835

A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6835, which would establish certain standards for coaches of varsity sports teams. (AI-written)

Amendment purpose (official): To establish certain standards with respect to coaches of varsity sports teams.

Bill summary: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 47–52·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

Booker Amdt. No. 6805; To increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes.

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6805

A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6805, which would increase the limit on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury coverage for student athletes. (AI-written)

Amendment purpose (official): To increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes.

Bill summary: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 49–50·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

Kennedy Amdt. No. 6760; To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6760

A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6760, which would limit price increases for college athletics tickets. (AI-written)

Amendment purpose (official): To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.

Bill summary: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 42–54·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 911 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.