U.S. Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska announced he is running for reelection Monday evening. Sasse is serving his first term in the Senate.
Sasse announced his re-election bid surrounded by Nebraska political figures. Congressmen Jeff Fortenberry and Don Bacon both spoke in support of Sasse, along with Governor Pete Ricketts, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, and former governors Dave Heineman and Kay Orr.
Sasse touted his Senate voting record, which he claims makes him one of the most conservative members of the Senate. He also pointed to what he calls a crisis of civics.
“We've got acute challenges. We have an opioids crisis in this country that’ll make you weep," Sasse said. "We have a surging racial hatred online of people willing to kill because they don’t understand the American idea.”
Sasse said there are some problems he thinks should be addressed by communities rather than government.
Sasse already has one opponent in the Republican primary. Matt Innis, a businessman and former chair of the Lancaster County Republicans, announced Friday he would run against Sasse.
For the Democrats, two candidates are vying to oppose Sasse so far. Chris Janicek and Angie Phillips both hail from the Omaha area.
Jane Kleeb is chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party. She pointed to policy differences between Democratic candidates and Republican candidates.
“One of the biggest ones facing our state is climate change. You can see up to thirty percent in crop loss if we don’t start to tackle and take serious the issue of climate change,” Kleeb said.
Senate primaries in Nebraska will be held next May, and the general election will take place in November of 2020.