Pete Ricketts is a businessman and politician who served as Nebraska's 40th governor from 2015-2023. Born in Nebraska City on August 19, 1964, he is the eldest son of Joe Ricketts, founder of TD Ameritrade, and is a part-owner of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Ricketts holds a B.A. in biology and an MBA in marketing and finance from the University of Chicago. He worked in executive positions at his family's company and founded Drakon LLC. After losing a U.S. Senate race to Ben Nelson in 2006, he was elected governor in 2014 and reelected in 2018. In January 2023, Governor Jim Pillen appointed Ricketts to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy created by Ben Sasse's resignation. He won a special election in November 2024 with 62.6% of the vote against Democratic nominee Preston Love Jr., and is now seeking his first full six-year term.
Ricketts grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Joe Ricketts, founder of TD Ameritrade. He earned undergraduate and MBA degrees from University of Chicago, worked in executive positions at his family's discount brokerage firm, and became involved in conservative political organizations including serving as Republican National Committee national committeeman (2007-2012) and American Enterprise Institute trustee (2007-2013). He co-founded the Platte Institute for Economic Research, described as a conservative free-market think tank. As part-owner of the Chicago Cubs (family trust purchased them in 2009), Ricketts has a 2016 World Series championship credit. He is married to Susanne Shore, a former nurse with a Democratic Party registration, and they have three children together.