Rallying the troops, Ricketts steak fry event fuels Nebraska Republicans for election battle

ARLINGTON, Neb. – Senator Pete Ricketts hosted his 7th annual steak fry in Arlington, drawing hundreds of Republicans from across Nebraska.

The event, held at RVR Bank Arena, served as a campaign rally to support Ricketts' reelection bid and featured appearances by Governor Jim Pillen, other elected officials, and special guest, Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma.

The gathering focused on key Republican talking points, including the recently passed "Big, Beautiful Bill," Nebraska's robust agriculture sector, and what speakers described as significant Republican accomplishments.

Gov. Pillen emphasized the bill's potential impact on education. "We were the first to come out two weeks ago to take advantage of that school choice federal scholarship fund," Pillen stated. "In this Big Beautiful Bill, funding is available for every kid in home schools, private schools, and public schools." He highlighted a $1,700 tax credit designed to support educational opportunities, including tutoring, free school lunch programs, and after-school initiatives.

Speakers also highlighted Senator Ricketts' leadership, particularly his record on taxes, abortion, and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic during his tenure as governor. U.S. Congressman Mike Flood noted, "Senator Ricketts during his time as governor helped Nebraska survive better than most states in the nation." Congressman Don Bacon added, "When Ricketts was the governor, he cut taxes by $12 billion. He’s the foremost leader in the state for pro-life and protecting babies."

Ricketts addressed the crowd, taking aim at his opponent, Dan Osborn, who is running as an independent. "He claims to be an independent. But you got to look at the positions that he will actually say where he stands on and he's taken the Democrat positions," Ricketts said.

Senator Mullin from Oklahoma urged attendees to actively engage in the political process. "Not only get out and vote, continue to get out there and fight with us, but also stand up and run for office," Mullin encouraged, emphasizing the importance of outreach and inclusivity. "We can only win if we continue to reach out to the other side and say, 'Hey, welcome to our party.'"