Pete Ricketts wins Republican nomination for Nebraska governor in tight race

washingtonpost.com ^ | 5/14/14 | Sean Sullivan

[cotton1706]

Omaha businessman Pete Ricketts won the Republican nomination for governor of Nebraska in Tuesday's primary, squeaking by state Attorney General Jon Bruning.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Pete Ricketts speaks in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, May 13, 2014, after winning his party's primary election. A crowd of Republican candidates jockeyed to succeed Nebraska's outgoing governor and senior U.S. senator in a busy primary election where voters also were set to select nominees for three other vacant offices. (AP Photo) Republican gubernatorial candidate Pete Ricketts speaks in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, May 13, 2014, after winning his party's primary election. (AP Photo)

With all precincts reporting, Ricketts outpaced Bruning by about 2,200 votes out of roughly 219,000 ballots cast. Four other candidates sought the GOP nomination. Bruning conceded the race to Ricketts late Tuesday.

Ricketts is the son of billionaire TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, a prominent conservative donor and power broker. The younger Ricketts attracted the support of a slate of potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates during the campaign, including Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.).

Pete Ricketts will begin the general election as a substantial favorite over Democratic nominee Chuck Hassebrook, given the state's clear conservative tilt.

[cotton1706]

In 2012 the Establishment wanted to make John Bruning a Senator, but Sarah Palin swung in and endorsed Deb Fischer, who is now Senator Fisher.

In 2014, the Establishment wanted John Bruning to be governor, but Sarah Palin and Ted Cruz swung in and endorsed Pete Ricketts, who won last night and will likely be elected governor in November.

Palin and Cruz are making a difference in changing the makeup of those in power. Hopefully, TW Shannon in OK and Karen Handel in GA will also be the republican nominees for office!

[txrefugee]

Paging Mr. Rove….your plate of hot crow is ready for pick up.

[Vigilanteman]

Looks like the GOPe is 0 for 2 in the great State of Nebraska.

[jim_trent]

Bruning got rich while in elected office. Just like Ben Nelson did. No honest politician can do that.

[trisham]

"One man with courage makes a majority."

~ Andrew Jackson

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[Kenny]

Looks like the GOPe is 0 for 2 in the great State of Nebraska.

Looks like 0 for 3 in last night's elections but I'm having a hard time finding articles about a Tea Party sweep.

[Vigilanteman]

Which was the third? I was thinking only the NE Governor and U.S. Senator.

[RJS1950]

The problem here as I am hearing on the local talk radio call ins is that too many Nebraskans who probably claim to be conservative are doing the same thing as many did nationally in 2012; “my candidate didn’t win so I’m taking my toys and going home”. I won’t vote for the GOP candidate who won because he beat my candidate, I don’t like the guy who won so I won’t vote for him. Most claim to want to see the democrats put out of power but out of the same mouth comes the statement of not voting for the selected candidate which is another defacto vote for a democrat and democrat power. Not sure how they resolve that paradox. Had several who have said they figure that if the democrat is elected then after one term the electorate will be sick of them and elect a “real” conservative, whatever their definition of a “real” conservative is. That notion was voiced nationally on these threads in 2008 and 2012 and how has that worked out? Dinsdale, candidate for the senate, who lost to Sasse made the comment that he wasn’t sure he would support Sasse, thus proving that he isn’t the conservative republican he said he was. Pack of morons.

[TBP]

A good night for the Tea Party. A bad one for rove and the Establishment, and for their Democrat friends.

[Kenny]

Which was the third? I was thinking only the NE Governor and U.S. Senator.

Alex Mooney - West Virginia’s 2nd district

Ben Sasse for U.S. Senate - Nebraska

Pete Ricketts - Governor Nebraska

All Tea Party

[Kenny]

too many Nebraskans who probably claim to be conservative are doing the same thing as many did nationally in 2012; “my candidate didn’t win so I’m taking my toys and going home”.

This is fatal to a Republican majority on either side. And it really is nothing more than a tantrum no matter who does it. All the rationale in the world won't explain turning your back on the Republican party because you don't like the leadership.

That establishes a Democrat majority and Democrat leadership.

[Vigilanteman]

Thanks. I forgot about neighboring WV and was thinking only of NE. There were only three states in the union where BO didn't manage to win a SINGLE county in 2012. WV was one of them.

Can you name the other two?

[RJS1950]

Yep, it’s like spitting in the wind to have to bring this up each and every election, primary or general. You didn’t see democrats walk away from any of their candidates regardless of disagreements between democrat leadership and the selected candidates.

[Kenny]

You didn’t see democrats walk away from any of their candidates regardless of disagreements between democrat leadership and the selected candidates

Thus the Democratic Senate majority.

[RJS1950]

Exactly, along with harry and his fiefdom cutting out any real representation for any states and their senators who try to do something harry doesn’t approve of. Reid and the democrat party has disenfranchised any opposition and their constituents in the senate. That is true tyranny.