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For immediate release: November 5, 2025

Contact: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Ricketts Outlines Republican Path to Expanding Senate Majority

“Conservative leadership matters. Conservative leadership delivers.”

WASHINGTON, DC – As Americans in several states cast their votes in off-year elections, Senator Pete Ricketts (NE), Vice Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), addressed members of The Ripon Society yesterday morning, outlining an ambitious Republican strategy for expanding the party's Senate majority in the 2026 midterm elections and addressing the ongoing government shutdown.

In addition to representing the Cornhusker state in the U.S. Senate, Senator Ricketts previously served as the 40th Governor of Nebraska from 2015 to 2023 and was appointed to the Senate in January 2023, winning a special election later that year. As NRSC Vice Chair, Ricketts plays a key role in Republican Senate campaign strategy nationwide.

"This is a very important election cycle because we are swimming against the tides of history," he said in his opening remarks, noting that the party in power typically loses seats in midterm elections. However, he expressed optimism that President Trump could break this pattern.

“Conservative leadership matters. Conservative leadership delivers,” he continued. “Now to keep control of the House and the Senate, what we have passed is the One Big Beautiful Bill.” The "One Big Beautiful Bill" underscored the need to expand the Republican majority beyond defensive holds. "Chairman Scott has said it's not just good enough to keep our 53 seats. He wants to expand; he wants to get to 55," Ricketts declared. The legislation passed 50-50 with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. "That's how close of a margin."

Ricketts expressed strong confidence in Senator Susan Collins' re-election in Maine, calling her "a very, very good politician." In North Carolina, he praised former RNC Chair Michael Whatley's ([link removed]) understanding of the electoral landscape and expressed confidence in holding that seat despite a competitive Democratic opponent.

Senator Ricketts outlined three prime pickup opportunities. In Michigan, former U.S. Representative Mike Rogers, ([link removed]) who lost by just three-tenths of a percent in 2024, already has more cash on hand than he did before the last election. "We're putting ourselves in a good position there in Michigan," Ricketts said.

In New Hampshire, former Senator John Sununu's ([link removed]) entry following Senator Jeanne Shaheen's retirement provides what Ricketts called "a great opportunity" to flip the seat. "The Sununu name is very, very well known in New Hampshire," he noted.

Georgia rounds out the pickup opportunities, where freshman Senator Jon Ossoff faces his first re-election. "We've got three good candidates there. Georgia is a state that we can pick up," Ricketts said.

Ricketts warned of an evolving Democratic strategy in red states. Citing last year's Nebraska race, where independent Dan Osborn ran what Ricketts characterized as a disguised Democratic campaign, he noted that Democrats spent nearly $38 million trying to defeat Senator Deb Fischer, outspending Republicans two-to-one. Fischer prevailed by six and a half points.

"The Democrats know that their brand stinks in places like Nebraska, so they're trying to fool people by running independents," he said. "They're not sitting back just trying to do the same old dumb stuff that keeps losing for them."

Later, Ricketts addressed the ongoing government shutdown, expressing confidence that Democrats would soon abandon their negotiating position, predicting a 30 percent chance of resolution this week and 60 percent by next week. He dismissed Democratic claims of leverage over pandemic-era subsidies, noting Republicans remain unified and President Trump has shown no indication of negotiating.

"What leverage do you think you have?" Ricketts asked, criticizing House Minority Whip Katherine Clark's statement ([link removed]) that this represents Democrats' only time for leverage. "You are the ones who like the government. We're trying to right size it." He noted the shutdown contradicts fiscal conservative principles since federal workers will be paid retroactively without being productive. "It's actually more expensive for us," he explained.

In Texas, where multiple candidates are seeking the Republican nomination, Ricketts offered an unequivocal endorsement of Senator John Cornyn ([link removed]) . "I think our best chance to win that state is with John Cornyn," he stated. "If you don't have John Cornyn there, there's a good chance Democrats can win that seat. I'm 100 percent behind Cornyn. I endorsed him. I hope he wins the primary and that's our best path to winning Texas."

In Ohio, Ricketts dismissed former Senator Sherrod Brown's comeback attempt. "The voters already spoke. They said they did not want Sherrod Brown," he declared. While acknowledging Brown's name recognition and fundraising ability, Ricketts praised Republican Senator Jon Husted's presence in Ohio. "If you haven't had the chance to meet Jon, oh my gosh, what a wonderful human being," he said. "I'm very confident that Jon's going to be able to beat Sherrod Brown. He's the same old liberal."

To view the remarks of Senator Ricketts before The Ripon Society yesterday morning, please click the link below:

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The Ripon Society is a public policy organization that was founded in 1962 and takes its name from the town where the Republican Party was born in 1854 –Ripon, Wisconsin. One of the main goals of The Ripon Society is to promote the ideas and principles that have made America great and contributed to the GOP’s success. These ideas include keeping our nation secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people.

For more information on The Ripon Society, please visit www.riponsociety.org ([link removed]) .

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The Ripon Society is a non-profit corporation organized under the laws of the District of Columbia. It is exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to section 501 (c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Ripon Society does not make contributions or expenditures to influence elections. In addition, The Ripon Society does not engage in other election activities, including voter registration, voter identification, get-out-the-vote activity, or generic campaign activity, collectively referred to as "federal election activity" in the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. Donations from corporations, organizations or individuals are accepted.

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