Nebraska Senator Endorses Wife for University Regent Seat

Republican Pete Ricketts backs Democratic spouse Susanne Shore for nonpartisan education role

Feb. 24, 2026 at 8:23pm

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In a surprising move, Republican U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska is endorsing his wife Susanne Shore, a Democrat, in her campaign for a seat on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. The nonpartisan education role oversees the state's largest public university system, and Shore is running against five other Democratic candidates.

Why it matters

The endorsement from Ricketts, a staunch conservative and ally of former President Trump, underscores the importance of family ties over partisan politics in some cases. It also highlights the nonpartisan nature of the regent position and the desire for the university system to innovate and better serve students across its campuses.

The details

Shore, the former First Lady of Nebraska during Ricketts' time as governor, is running on a platform of using data to drive improvements in learning, research, and the overall student experience across the NU system. The Omaha-based regent seat became vacant after the previous office holder resigned to avoid impeachment following an alcohol-related car accident.

  • The special election for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents seat is scheduled for March 2026.
  • Ricketts has served as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska since 2021.

The players

Pete Ricketts

A Republican U.S. Senator from Nebraska and a loyal ally of former President Donald Trump.

Susanne Shore

The wife of Senator Pete Ricketts and a Democratic candidate for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

Elizabeth O'Connor

The previous University of Nebraska Board of Regents member who resigned to avoid impeachment after an alcohol-related car accident.

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What they’re saying

“She says she wants all NU campuses to learn from what others are doing well — at NU and elsewhere. She wants NU to use that data to innovate in learning, research and student experience. She would like to see the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska at Kearney emulate the University of Nebraska at Omaha in studying what its students need to succeed.”

— Susanne Shore, Candidate for University of Nebraska Board of Regents

What’s next

The special election for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents seat will be held in March 2026.

The takeaway

This endorsement from a Republican senator for his Democratic wife in a nonpartisan education race underscores the importance of family ties and the desire for the university system to innovate and better serve students, regardless of partisan affiliations.