WASHINGTON — Pete Ricketts had less than three weeks between his old job and his new one a thousand miles away. The former governor of Nebraska was sworn in to the Senate on Monday, raising his right hand as the chamber returned to start the year’s work in earnest.
He got the role thanks to the man he backed to replace him as governor, Jim Pillen. The choice “was very, very obvious,” Pillen said when announcing the appointment on Jan. 12.
Ricketts replaces former Sen. Ben Sasse, who resigned effective Jan. 8 for a position leading the University of Florida. The state’s senior senator, Deb Fischer, stood by his side as he took the oath of office on the floor.
