Public domain
RepublicanRunning for NE U.S. Senate · 2026
Pete Ricketts
John Peter Ricketts (born August 19, 1964) is an American businessman and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Nebraska since 2023. A member of the Republican Party , he served as the 40th governor of Nebraska from 2015 to 2023.
Born 1964 · Nebraska City, Nebraska , U.S.
In brief
AI · verified vs data · 2026-07-03
Pete Ricketts, the incumbent Republican U.S. senator from Nebraska who previously served as the state's governor from 2015 to 2023, won his party's primary and is seeking reelection in 2026. Polling shows him leading challenger Cindy Burbank, about 47% to roughly 39%. Market data puts his win probability around 70%, and he has raised roughly $5 million for the campaign.
47%
Polling average
our aggregate
67%
Win probability
market-implied
$4.9M
Raised this cycle
FEC · committee
Independence scorecard
Computed · FEC money mixWho Ricketts's money comes from.
C−
34/100
Independence index
Funding mix leans on concentrated money — pac independence is the weak spot.
3 watch items · pac independence
Small-dollar reliance10
5% of individual + PAC money from donors under $200
PAC independence0
43% of individual + PAC money from PACs
In-state funding39
61% of itemized receipts come from out of state
Outside-money exposure86
$778k in outside spending supports the campaign
MONEY-MIX INDEX, COMPUTED FROM FEC FILINGS ONLY: SMALL-DOLLAR SHARE, PAC RELIANCE, IN-STATE MONEY AND OUTSIDE (IE) SPENDING. IT DOES NOT SCORE VOTES OR DONOR–VOTE ALIGNMENT. HIGHER = MORE INDEPENDENT · GREEN ≥70 · AMBER 50–69 · RED <50.
Governing & voting record
What Ricketts did in office.
MeasureYearAction
A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to
Became Public Law No: 119-11.
2025
Became law
SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
2026
Sponsored
Bank-Fintech Partnership Enhancement Act
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
2026
Sponsored
UNLOCK AUKUS Act
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
2026
Sponsored
FENCE Act
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
2026
Sponsored
A resolution recognizing the United States-Philippines alliance on the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relation
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S2667-2668)
2026
Sponsored
A resolution expressing support for the designation of May 2026 as "Renewable Fuels Month" to recognize the im
Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S2435; text: CR S2445)
2026
Sponsored
SPONSORED LEGISLATION VIA CONGRESS.GOV · ENACTED BILLS FIRST, THEN THE MOST RECENT · ROLE SHOWS THE BILL'S LATEST STATUS.
How Ricketts votes
With the party, against it, and where on the spectrum.
Ideological placement · roll-call record
Dem median
GOP median
Ricketts
← LiberalCenterConservative →
Center-right
Overall lean
72
DW-NOMINATE · 0–100
DW-NOMINATE FIRST-DIMENSION SCORE FROM ROLL-CALL VOTES IN THE 119TH CONGRESS (SENATE), VIA VOTEVIEW. 0 = MOST LIBERAL, 100 = MOST CONSERVATIVE.
Party unity · 843 roll-calls · 119th Congress (Senate)
100%voted with Republicans · 0% broke ranks
Ratings from advocacy groups
—
No advocacy-group ratings
Interest-group scorecards have no machine-readable feed — they're curated per candidate, and none are on file yet.
Career & history
2015Governor of Nebraska
2015–2023
2023United States senator
since 2023
Public favorability
—
No favorability data
This candidate isn't tracked by YouGov's public-figure panel, and no published state polling on their favorability was found.
Donors & money
FEC itemized filings · cycle-to-dateWho funds the campaign.
$4.9M
Raised
$4.3M
Spent
$1.1M
Cash on hand
Source of funds · individual + PAC
5% small (<$200)52% large indiv.43% PAC
39% in-state · 61% out-of-state (itemized)
Top contributors · bundled by employer / org
PEARSON & ASSOCIATES
$357k
HOLTZMAN VOGEL, PLLC
$138k
S-3 GROUP
$124k
U.S. TRAVEL ASSOCIATION
$70k
BP
$64k
BUNGE NORTH AMERICA PAC
$37k
Top industries · itemized $
Restaurants & drinking$25k
OWN-COMMITTEE TOTALS FROM FEC FILINGS THROUGH 2026-04-22 · INDUSTRY GROUPS ARE ITEMIZED RECEIPTS CLASSIFIED BY EMPLOYER — A KEYWORD APPROXIMATION, NOT OPENSECRETS CODING. SOURCE: FEC ↗
Race
The contest Ricketts is running in.
NE · SENATE · 2026likely r
Ricketts (R) vs Cindy Burbank (D)
47%+8.0 Ricketts39%
Open full race detail →
Related prediction markets
All markets →Live contract prices tied to Ricketts and the seat. Prices are ¢-per-share of the YES outcome; context only, never merged into our polling averages.
Will the Democrats win the Nebraska Senate race in 2026?
Polymarket · Democrat
Will an independent win the Nebraska Senate race in 2026?
Polymarket · Independent
Will the Republicans win the Nebraska Senate race in 2026?
Polymarket · Republican
Which party will win the 2026 US Senate election in Nebraska?
predictit · Republican Party
Which party will win the 2026 US Senate election in Nebraska?
predictit · Independent
Which party will win the 2026 US Senate election in Nebraska?
predictit · Democratic Party
Sources & provenance
Biography
Public record
Wikipedia + state records
Money & donors
FEC filings
itemized + committee totals
Markets
Live venues
Polymarket · Kalshi
ALL FIGURES DRAWN FROM PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RECORDS · CANDIDATE PROFILES ARE NONPARTISAN AND CARRY NO ENDORSEMENT. · PHOTO: UNITED STATES SENATE · PUBLIC DOMAIN (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)
Related coverage
nytimes.com · 2026-07-02
Nebraska U.S. Senate Election 2026: Latest Polls
ketv.com · 2026-07-01
2026 Nebraska Election: Races, registration and important dates
nebraskapublicmedia.org · 2026-06-28
Nebraska Democrats warn of new political party for spoiler candidates
nytimes.com · 2026-06-24
Nebraska Second Congressional District 2026: Latest Polls
Republican · NE U.S. Senate
Pete Ricketts
John Peter Ricketts (born August 19, 1964) is an American businessman and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Nebraska since 2023. A member of the Republican Party , he served as the 40th governor of Nebraska from 2015 to 2023.
Where Ricketts standsRace →
Ricketts 47%Cindy Burbank 39%
Market · wins
67¢
47%
Poll avg
67%
Win prob
$4.9M
Raised
In brief
AI · verified vs data · 2026-07-03Pete Ricketts, the incumbent Republican U.S. senator from Nebraska who previously served as the state's governor from 2015 to 2023, won his party's primary and is seeking reelection in 2026. Polling shows him leading challenger Cindy Burbank, about 47% to roughly 39%. Market data puts his win probability around 70%, and he has raised roughly $5 million for the campaign.
Governing & voting record
A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to
2025 · BECAME LAW
SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of 2026
2026 · SPONSORED
Bank-Fintech Partnership Enhancement Act
2026 · SPONSORED
UNLOCK AUKUS Act
2026 · SPONSORED
FENCE Act
2026 · SPONSORED
A resolution recognizing the United States-Philippines alliance on the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relation
2026 · SPONSORED
A resolution expressing support for the designation of May 2026 as "Renewable Fuels Month" to recognize the im
2026 · SPONSORED
Where Ricketts stands
AI · from the recordAgriculture & rural policy
Sponsored the SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of 2026 and the FENCE Act, both referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and sponsored a resolution supporting the designation of May 2026 as "Renewable Fuels Month."
Foreign policy
Sponsored the UNLOCK AUKUS Act, advanced favorably by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and sponsored a resolution recognizing the 80th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippines alliance.
Financial regulation
Sponsored the Bank-Fintech Partnership Enhancement Act, referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Party independence
Votes with the Republican party 100% of the time across 843 roll-call votes in the 119th Congress, with a DW-NOMINATE score of 72 placing him center-right within the chamber.
Career & history
2015Governor of Nebraska
2015–2023
2023United States senator
since 2023
Public favorability
—
No favorability data
This candidate isn't tracked by YouGov's public-figure panel, and no published state polling on their favorability was found.
Independence scorecard
Who Ricketts's money comes from.
C−
34/100
Independence index
Funding mix leans on concentrated money — pac independence is the weak spot.
3 watch items · pac independence
Small-dollar reliance10
5% of individual + PAC money from donors under $200
PAC independence0
43% of individual + PAC money from PACs
In-state funding39
61% of itemized receipts come from out of state
Outside-money exposure86
$778k in outside spending supports the campaign
MONEY-MIX INDEX, COMPUTED FROM FEC FILINGS ONLY: SMALL-DOLLAR SHARE, PAC RELIANCE, IN-STATE MONEY AND OUTSIDE (IE) SPENDING. IT DOES NOT SCORE VOTES OR DONOR–VOTE ALIGNMENT. HIGHER = MORE INDEPENDENT · GREEN ≥70 · AMBER 50–69 · RED <50.
How Ricketts votes
Ideological placement · roll-call record
Dem median
GOP median
Ricketts
← LiberalCenterConservative →
Center-right
Overall lean
72
DW-NOMINATE · 0–100
DW-NOMINATE FIRST-DIMENSION SCORE FROM ROLL-CALL VOTES IN THE 119TH CONGRESS (SENATE), VIA VOTEVIEW. 0 = MOST LIBERAL, 100 = MOST CONSERVATIVE.
Party unity · 843 roll-calls · 119th Congress (Senate)
100%voted with Republicans · 0% broke ranks
Ratings from advocacy groups
—
No advocacy-group ratings
Interest-group scorecards have no machine-readable feed — they're curated per candidate, and none are on file yet.
Donors & money
$4.9M
Raised
$4.3M
Spent
$1.1M
Cash on hand
Source of funds · individual + PAC
5% small (<$200)52% large indiv.43% PAC
39% in-state · 61% out-of-state (itemized)
Top industries · itemized $
Restaurants & drinking$25k
OWN-COMMITTEE TOTALS FROM FEC FILINGS THROUGH 2026-04-22 · INDUSTRY GROUPS ARE ITEMIZED RECEIPTS CLASSIFIED BY EMPLOYER — A KEYWORD APPROXIMATION, NOT OPENSECRETS CODING. SOURCE: FEC ↗
Related prediction markets
All markets →Will the Democrats win the Nebraska Senate race in 2026?
Polymarket · Democrat
Will an independent win the Nebraska Senate race in 2026?
Polymarket · Independent
Will the Republicans win the Nebraska Senate race in 2026?
Polymarket · Republican
Which party will win the 2026 US Senate election in Nebraska?
predictit · Republican Party
Which party will win the 2026 US Senate election in Nebraska?
predictit · Independent
Which party will win the 2026 US Senate election in Nebraska?
predictit · Democratic Party
Sources & provenance
Biography
Public record
Wikipedia + state records
Money & donors
FEC filings
itemized + committee totals
Markets
Live venues
Polymarket · Kalshi
ALL FIGURES DRAWN FROM PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RECORDS · CANDIDATE PROFILES ARE NONPARTISAN AND CARRY NO ENDORSEMENT. · PHOTO: UNITED STATES SENATE · PUBLIC DOMAIN (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)