Former Nebraska First Lady Susanne Shore Runs for NU Regent in Omaha

Shore, a Democrat, seeks to heal University of Nebraska from months of infighting and help set a vision for its future.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Susanne Shore, the Democratic former first lady of Nebraska and wife of Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, is running for a seat on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents representing Omaha. Shore says she wants to help NU heal from months of infighting and work with stakeholders to set a vision for the university's future, focusing on innovation in learning, research, and student experience.

Why it matters

The political divide between Shore, a Democrat, and her Republican husband Ricketts has drawn attention for over a decade. Shore's candidacy for the officially nonpartisan NU Board of Regents seat represents a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation between the couple, as Ricketts has expressed support for his wife's campaign.

The details

Shore says she wants NU campuses to learn from each other's best practices, such as UNO's efforts to address math preparation issues for its students. She also wants NU to emulate UNMC's focus on being a flagship academic medical center. Shore plans to press NU to work more collaboratively across academic disciplines and to boost internships and work-study programs to support students, especially first-generation college students.

  • Shore is seeking the final four years of former NU Regent Elizabeth O'Connor's term in eastern Douglas County.
  • The top-two candidates in the May 12 primary will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

The players

Susanne Shore

The Democratic former first lady of Nebraska and wife of Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, who is running for a seat on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents representing Omaha.

Pete Ricketts

The Republican U.S. Senator and former two-term governor of Nebraska, who is Susanne Shore's husband and has expressed support for her NU Regent campaign.

University of Nebraska

The statewide university system that Shore is seeking a seat on the Board of Regents to help guide.

University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO)

One of the NU system campuses that Shore says has learned from its students' needs and started offering more tailored coursework, which she wants other NU campuses to emulate.

University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)

The NU system's academic medical center that Shore says should be a model for the university's other campuses in terms of its focus on being a flagship institution.

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What they’re saying

“He's told me what it's like to run for office, and I've seen it firsthand. It does feel different to be on this side, but so far it's been amazing.”

— Susanne Shore (Nebraska Examiner)

“Her deep love for Nebraska is clear. I usually vote straight Republican, but Susanne will be my one Democrat exception in 2026!”

— Pete Ricketts, U.S. Senator (Nebraska Examiner)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the bipartisan cooperation between Susanne Shore and her husband Pete Ricketts, as the Democratic former first lady seeks a seat on the officially nonpartisan University of Nebraska Board of Regents, with the support of the Republican U.S. Senator. Their ability to work together across party lines on this race could serve as a model for how to address the university's recent infighting and set a unifying vision for its future.