Nebraska’s new governor on Jan. 12 appointed the just-departed governor who backed his campaign to the U.S. Senate.
Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican, appointed former Gov. Pete Ricketts, another Republican, to a seat vacated by former Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.).
Pillen said he viewed Ricketts as “the best person to represent us” in the Senate.
He also said he did not want to pick a placeholder.
“I think it’s very, very important when you fill an appointment, you have a person committed to the long haul,” he said at a press conference announcing his choice.
Pillen’s office had asked for applications from interested parties in December 2022. Pillen received 111 applicants and interviewed nine people….