Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts exposed a political rift between himself and Lt. Gov. Mike Foley Tuesday, saying he was “disappointed” at Foley’s intention to endorse Charles Herbster in the race for governor.
“I’m disappointed with some of his choices,” Ricketts said of Foley, who has been Nebraska’s lieutenant governor since 2015.
The governor said Foley showed “poor judgment” in his support, but that while he and the lieutenant governor “disagree on topics from time to time, we’re both going to continue to work together in the best interest of Nebraska.”
The Herbster campaign officially announced Foley’s endorsement at a news conference in Lincoln on Tuesday afternoon.
“Charles is a man of faith and conviction. He is a lifelong Nebraskan with family ties going back five generations. Charles is a job creator who has invested in this state. He is rooted in our conservative values and will rely on those values when leading our great state,” Foley said.
Foley responded to Rickett’s comments Tuesday.
“I think the fact that certain people are pushing back so strongly indicates that they understand the seriousness of this endorsement. I am flattered by it quite honestly,” Foley said.
On Wednesday, Herbster responded to Ricketts’ comments that he would be a “terrible governor.”
“Charles W. Herbster leads in the polls and leads the charge to be the next Governor of Nebraska. Like many of us, he wishes the current Governor, Pete Ricketts, would spend his remaining time in the office helping the state and staying out of politics. Unfortunately, Governor Ricketts has inserted himself into this race and has made this a one-way personal vendetta against Herbster, who previously gave his money and his vote to Ricketts,” Herbster’s campaign said in a statement.
Ricketts announced in January that he is backing Republican candidate Jim Pillen in the Governor’s race. Ricketts amplified that support Tuesday, calling Herbster a “poor choice.” Ricketts again criticized Herbster for being late on property taxes and locating his company headquarters in Missouri, not Nebraska. Ricketts has said in past Herbster would make a “terrible governor.”