U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts took time for a campaign stop in Broken Bow on Wednesday, August 26th. Ricketts held a “Victory Program Event” before attending the ground breaking ceremony at Adams Land & Cattle as his campaign for reelection heats up against Independent candidate Dan Osborn.
Ricketts started his presentation with critical comments concerning Washington, D.C. Democrats saying “they have lost their minds”. He also added that Democrats have been unwilling to move any common sense policies forward because the party is beholding to the far left wing of the party who are democratic socialists.
Ricketts’ other topics covered some of what he has accomplished as a Senator in D.C. Those accomplishments include border security, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, dropping taxes on Social Security, efforts to reduce housing costs, and supporting law enforcement.
Senator Ricketts allowed time for a brief question and answer period during which he addressed a question about the recent presidential proposal to increase foreign beef imports as a response to high food prices. Ricketts said the short term policy would provide little benefit to consumers while hurting U.S. cattle producers. The long term solution suggested to the White House has been to help increase national cattle herd numbers by opening more federal land for grazing and encouraging herd expansions.
Senator Ricketts highlighted the stark differences between himself and his opponent, Dan Osborn. Ricketts said Osborn is running as a moderate Independent, but he is really a Democrat who is being lead and supported by party liberals. Ricketts’ comments at Broken Bow and other tour stops sets the stage for the candidates’ first and only debate at the Nebraska State Fair tonight. The political event will be the first time that a Senate debate has been held at the fair since 2018 when Deb Fischer squared off against challenger Jane Raybould.
News Channel Nebraska will moderate and broadcast the debate from 6-7:00 p.m tonight from the Big Iron Events Center. In addition to NCN, The Nebraska Examiner, Flatwater Free Press, and the Omaha World-Herald will also be part of the debate as their reporters will serve as a panel asking the questions. In-person public seating is limited to 200 people via prior registration.
