Pete Ricketts

Death penalty

Ricketts supports the death penalty. In 2015, while governor, he vetoed a bill to abolish capital punishment in Nebraska, but the legislature overrode his veto. In 2016, Ricketts spent part of his family fortune to finance a referendum to reinstate capital punishment in the state. The referendum passed, and in 2018 the state executed Carey Dean Moore, the first inmate put to death in the state in 21 years. Ricketts, a Catholic, rebuffed calls from the Catholic Church to halt executions.

Donald Trump

Ricketts criticized the impeachment of Donald Trump over his request that Ukraine start an investigation into his political rival Joe Biden. Ricketts said the impeachment proceedings were a "partisan impeachment parade" and praised the Senate for acquitting Trump.

Cannabis

Ricketts opposes legalization of medical cannabis. In 2019, he said that its "medicinal value has not been tested" and cited studies suggesting that cannabis adversely affects brain functions. He also pointed to overdoses of the synthetic cannabinoid K2 as a "reminder of how dangerous cannabis can be". In 2021, while the Nebraska legislature was contemplating legalizing medical cannabis, he said, "If you legalize marijuana, you're gonna kill your kids. That's what the data shows from around the country."

Economy

As governor, Ricketts signed legislation enacting $12.7 billion in tax cuts. He was among the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. In 2025, he voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was estimated to increase the federal deficit by more than $4 trillion. Ricketts said, "the One Big Beautiful Bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver for Nebraska."

Environment

Ricketts opposed the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He supported the Keystone XL Pipeline, saying it would "create jobs here in Nebraska, lots of tax revenues here in Nebraska, of course help us become less dependent on foreign oil."

In 2021, Ricketts said he opposed a proposal by President Joe Biden to preserve 30% of the nation's land and water by 2030, calling it a "radical climate agenda."

In the Senate, Ricketts serves on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. He has been a vocal critic of what he calls "detached from reality" mandates from the Biden administration. Ricketts has also opposed Biden's efforts to expand the definition of the Waters of the U.S. rule and has opposed "new proposed vehicle emissions regulations, which were designed to increase sales of electric vehicles."

Foreign policy

Ricketts has strongly opposed the second Trump administration's plan to sell advanced AI chips to China.

In 2026, Ricketts supported Trump's decision to enter the 2026 Iran war, and voted against a measure intended to limit it through a war powers resolution. About Pope Leo XIV's critical statements regarding the US–Israeli military operation against Iran, Ricketts said: "The president and the pope have two very different jobs. The president's job is to keep the people of the United States safe. The pope's job is the spiritual welfare of the world. … If your mother and father were fighting, would you want to take a side or would you want to try to de-escalate?"

Political contributions

In July 2022, Ricketts contributed $250,000 to a political action committee created to oppose the U.S. Senate campaign of Eric Greitens in advance of Missouri's August primary election.

Second Amendment

As governor, Ricketts designated Nebraska as a "sanctuary state" for the Second Amendment. He believes mental illness causes most mass shootings and has been critical of Biden's support for gun control.