Ricketts, Smith make final pitch in Hastings ahead of Election Day
The senator and congressman held a campaign event at the Hastings Airport on Monday, one day before voters go to the polls.
By Jack Weber ·
Nebraskans will cast their votes Tuesday, Nov. 3, after Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts and U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith held a final campaign event in Hastings on Monday. The two lawmakers addressed supporters at Hastings Municipal Airport, marking the last day of their coordinated outreach before Election Day.
Ricketts is traveling on a tour he calls the “Hold Defend the Good Life Tour,” a series of events designed to promote Republican candidates and ballot issues. In the U.S. Senate race, he faces independent challenger Dan Osborn. Ricketts contrasted his twelve years in office as governor and senator with his opponent’s record.
“You may not agree with everything I do, but you know where I stand,” Ricketts said. “You know what I’ll do. With my opponent, you never will.” He described the choice as one between a known quantity and a candidate who says whatever he thinks voters want to hear.
Ricketts said the cost of living is the top concern he hears from residents. He pointed to the Republican Working Families Tax Cut, which ended taxes on tips and overtime, raised the child tax credit, and made the estate tax exemption permanent. He also cited the Road to Housing Act and called for more domestic refineries and fertilizer plants to support the state.
The senator argued that Congress must pass government funding and finish a farm bill that allows year-round sales of E15, a higher ethanol blend. He said the measure would increase demand for farmers’ products. He also urged for permitting changes to make it easier to build houses, roads, and oil refineries.
Rep. Smith thanked voters for their support and said he is honored to carry Nebraska’s ideas to Washington. He mentioned concerns such as wildfires that hurt local producers. Smith said Congress should protect recent tax cuts, warning that Democrats want to undo them.
“That would be dangerous for our economy, bad for economic opportunity and bad for our country,” Smith said. He added that Nebraskans want Congress to complete its work, noting there have been some delays and disruptions.
Smith claimed the E15 measure originated in his legislation. “We got that out of the House. That was my bill,” he said. “Now we’re trying to get that through the Senate, along with the farm bill.” He also noted that getting a message out is not cheap and that Nebraskans backing Ricketts is a lot different than his opponent bringing in millions of dollars from the coast.
Ricketts said his money comes from Nebraska, while his opponent’s funding comes from New York and California. When asked about polling showing an independent closing in on a Republican incumbent, Ricketts said he campaigns the same way in every race. “That’s what I do in every one of my elections,” he said. “I go out and ask for people’s vote. And that’s what I’m doing this time.”
The senator said President Donald Trump has been helpful this election season, pointing to the president’s visit to Grand Island and Vice President JD Vance’s stop in North Platte. Both officials spoke to KSNB after the event, with media available to interview them following the gathering.
