Pete Ricketts

Pete Ricketts
Name	Pete Ricketts
Caption	Official portrait, 2023
Office	United States Senator from Nebraska
Term start	January 23, 2023
Predecessor	Ben Sasse
Office1	40th Governor of Nebraska
Term start1	January 8, 2015
Term end1	January 5, 2023
Predecessor1	Dave Heineman
Successor1	Jim Pillen
Party	Republican
Spouse	Susanne Shore
Alma mater	University of Chicago

Pete Ricketts is an American businessman and politician serving as the junior United States Senator from Nebraska since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 40th Governor of Nebraska from 2015 to 2023. Ricketts is a former executive of TD Ameritrade, the brokerage firm co-founded by his father, Joe Ricketts.

Early life and education

John Peter Ricketts was born on August 19, 1964, in Nebraska City, Nebraska. He is the son of Marjorie and Joe Ricketts, the founder of what would become TD Ameritrade. He grew up in Omaha and attended Westside High School. Ricketts earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from the University of Chicago in 1986, where he was also a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

Business career

Following his graduation, Ricketts joined the family business, working in various roles at First National Bank of Omaha and later at Ameritrade. He served as the chief operating officer of Ameritrade and was a member of its board of directors. After the merger that created TD Ameritrade, he continued in leadership positions. His business career also included service on the boards of Scoular and the Chicago Cubs, the latter owned by the Ricketts family.

Political career

Ricketts first entered politics as the Republican National Committeeman for Nebraska from 2008 to 2010. In 2006, he was the Republican nominee for the United States Senate in Nebraska, losing to incumbent Democratic Senator Ben Nelson. He was elected Governor of Nebraska in 2014, defeating Democratic candidate Chuck Hassebrook, and was re-elected in 2018, defeating Bob Krist.

U.S. Senate

Following the resignation of Senator Ben Sasse to become president of the University of Florida, Governor Jim Pillen appointed Ricketts to the vacant United States Senate seat on January 12, 2023. He was sworn in on January 23, 2023, by Vice President Kamala Harris. In the Senate, Ricketts serves on the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Environment and Public Works, and the Select Committee on Ethics.

Political positions

Ricketts is a conservative Republican whose governorship was marked by significant tax cuts, including reductions in income tax and property tax rates. He is a staunch opponent of abortion and signed legislation such as the Nebraska Heartbeat Act. On economic policy, he advocates for deregulation and has been critical of the Environmental Protection Agency. He supports school choice initiatives and signed legislation providing state funding for private school scholarships. In foreign policy, he is a strong supporter of Israel and has taken a hardline stance against the governments of Iran and China.

Personal life

Ricketts is married to Susanne Shore, a former First Lady of Nebraska. They have three children and reside in Omaha. He is a Roman Catholic and has been involved with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Nebraska Children's Home Society. The Ricketts family owns the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.

Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:United States senators from Nebraska Category:Governors of Nebraska Category:Republican Party United States senators Category:University of Chicago alumni