Research summary
Research summary
Topic summary
Trace their public records on abortion and related social policy in Nebraska.
Key research questions
- Investigate "Nebraska Senate: Pete Ricketts vs.
Important claims and supporting citations
On August 15, 2020, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts signed LB 814, establishing dilation and evacuation abortions as a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The Ricketts family provided at least $5.1 million to the Protect Women and Children ballot initiative campaign in 2024, although $1.5 million was later returned.
- https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-champions-pro-life-movements-successes-in-nebraska-calls-for-passage-of-born-alive-bill/
- https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-announces-co-sponsorships-of-three-pro-life-bills-following-nebraska-march-for-life/
- https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/weekly_column/senator-ricketts-weekly-column-fighting-for-life/
On June 1, 2026, the Washington Free Beacon reported that Dan Osborn removed all references to abortion from his campaign website.
On January 22, 2025, Pete Ricketts announced during a Senate floor speech that he would introduce the Dignity for Aborted Children Act regarding the handling of aborted fetal remains.
In the 2026 Nebraska Democratic U.S. Senate primary, Cindy Burbank defeated anti-abortion pastor William Forbes with 89.2% of the vote before withdrawing in July to back Dan Osborn.
Pete Ricketts donated $500,000 to Protect Women and Children and was the only donor listed on their initial campaign finance filing with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.
In August 2022, Governor Pete Ricketts canceled a planned special legislative session for a 12-week abortion ban after securing commitments from only 30 of the required 33 state senators.
Pete Ricketts and his family heavily financed the 2015 petition drive that restored Nebraska's death penalty after the state legislature repealed it.
Outstanding questions
- On August 15, 2020, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts signed LB 814, establishing dilation and evacuation abortions as a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
- The Ricketts family provided at least $5.1 million to the Protect Women and Children ballot initiative campaign in 2024, although $1.5 million was later returned.
- On June 1, 2026, the Washington Free Beacon reported that Dan Osborn removed all references to abortion from his campaign website.
- On January 22, 2025, Pete Ricketts announced during a Senate floor speech that he would introduce the Dignity for Aborted Children Act regarding the handling of aborted fetal remains.
- In the 2026 Nebraska Democratic U.S. Senate primary, Cindy Burbank defeated anti-abortion pastor William Forbes with 89.2% of the vote before withdrawing in July to back Dan Osborn.
- Pete Ricketts donated $500,000 to Protect Women and Children and was the only donor listed on their initial campaign finance filing with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.
- In August 2022, Governor Pete Ricketts canceled a planned special legislative session for a 12-week abortion ban after securing commitments from only 30 of the required 33 state senators.
- Pete Ricketts and his family heavily financed the 2015 petition drive that restored Nebraska's death penalty after the state legislature repealed it.
View all claims (text)
Claims
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On January 22, 2025, Pete Ricketts announced during a Senate floor speech that he would introduce the Dignity…
On January 22, 2025, Pete Ricketts announced during a Senate floor speech that he would introduce the Dignity for Aborted Children Act regarding the handling of aborted fetal remains.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
Pete Ricketts sponsored federal legislation to criminalize mail-order distribution of abortion medication and…
Pete Ricketts sponsored federal legislation to criminalize mail-order distribution of abortion medication and make it a federal crime for doctors to perform abortions on out-of-state minors without parental consent.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
Sen.
Sen. Pete Ricketts voted against S. 4445 concerning nationwide IVF access and S. 4554, the Reproductive Freedom for Women Act.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
Pete Ricketts and his family heavily financed the 2015 petition drive that restored Nebraska's death penalty…
Pete Ricketts and his family heavily financed the 2015 petition drive that restored Nebraska's death penalty after the state legislature repealed it.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
On January 23, 2025, Sen.
On January 23, 2025, Sen. Pete Ricketts co-sponsored the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and announced plans to introduce the Dignity for Aborted Children Act.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
In his Vote Smart Political Courage Test, Pete Ricketts affirmed that life begins at conception and stated he…
In his Vote Smart Political Courage Test, Pete Ricketts affirmed that life begins at conception and stated he opposes all abortions under the principle of double effect.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
In February 2023, Sen.
In February 2023, Sen. Pete Ricketts co-sponsored the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, and the SAVE Moms and Babies Act.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
In 2022, Nebraska's 'trigger' abortion ban bill, LB 933, failed to overcome a filibuster cloture hurdle in th…
In 2022, Nebraska's 'trigger' abortion ban bill, LB 933, failed to overcome a filibuster cloture hurdle in the unicameral legislature.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
In the 2026 Nebraska Democratic U.S.
In the 2026 Nebraska Democratic U.S. Senate primary, Cindy Burbank defeated anti-abortion pastor William Forbes with 89.2% of the vote before withdrawing in July to back Dan Osborn.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
In November 2024, Nebraska voters considered two competing ballot measures on abortion: an initiative to prot…
In November 2024, Nebraska voters considered two competing ballot measures on abortion: an initiative to protect abortion access up to fetal viability, and an initiative to enshrine the state's 12-week ban into the state constitution.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
On April 4, 2018, Governor Pete Ricketts signed budget legislation including LB 944e, which prohibited Title…
On April 4, 2018, Governor Pete Ricketts signed budget legislation including LB 944e, which prohibited Title X taxpayer funds from supporting abortion services, counseling, or referrals in Nebraska clinics.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
Nebraska's 2023 LB 574 legislation, which combined a roughly 12-week abortion ban with restrictions on gender…
Nebraska's 2023 LB 574 legislation, which combined a roughly 12-week abortion ban with restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for minors, was signed by Governor Jim Pillen rather than Pete Ricketts.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
Sen.
Sen. Pete Ricketts voted against cloture for S. 4381, the Right to Contraception Act, on June 5, 2024.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
Passage and Enactment of Nebraska LB 814
Passage and Enactment of Nebraska LB 814
Labels: Inferred, Low
Dan Osborn's Dispute with Deb Fischer Over Campaign Ads
Dan Osborn's Dispute with Deb Fischer Over Campaign Ads
Labels: Inferred, Low
Ricketts Family Contributions to Protect Women and Children
Ricketts Family Contributions to Protect Women and Children
Labels: Inferred, Low
Dan Osborn's Platform on Abortion Access and Codification
Dan Osborn's Platform on Abortion Access and Codification
Labels: Inferred, Low
Pete Ricketts's Abortion Policy Actions as Governor
Pete Ricketts's Abortion Policy Actions as Governor
Labels: Inferred, Low
Pete Ricketts donated $500,000 to Protect Women and Children and was the only donor listed on their initial c…
Pete Ricketts donated $500,000 to Protect Women and Children and was the only donor listed on their initial campaign finance filing with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
In June 2019, Governor Pete Ricketts signed LB 209, requiring doctors prescribing abortion pills to inform pa…
In June 2019, Governor Pete Ricketts signed LB 209, requiring doctors prescribing abortion pills to inform patients about the potential to reverse the procedure after the initial dose.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
In the November 2024 election, Nebraska voters rejected the constitutional amendment protecting abortion up t…
In the November 2024 election, Nebraska voters rejected the constitutional amendment protecting abortion up to viability and approved the measure enshrining the roughly 12-week limit framework.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
In his 2024 campaign, Dan Osborn stated that abortion decisions should be made by women and doctors rather th…
In his 2024 campaign, Dan Osborn stated that abortion decisions should be made by women and doctors rather than politicians, while expressing opposition to a national abortion ban.
Labels: Inferred, Low, investigate
In 2017, Governor Pete Ricketts signed the Compassionate Care for Medically Challenging Pregnancies Act, mand…
In 2017, Governor Pete Ricketts signed the Compassionate Care for Medically Challenging Pregnancies Act, mandating that doctors offer information on perinatal hospice care for lethal fetal anomalies.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
In August 2022, Governor Pete Ricketts canceled a planned special legislative session for a 12-week abortion…
In August 2022, Governor Pete Ricketts canceled a planned special legislative session for a 12-week abortion ban after securing commitments from only 30 of the required 33 state senators.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
In October 2024, Dan Osborn threatened legal action against Senator Deb Fischer over campaign advertisements…
In October 2024, Dan Osborn threatened legal action against Senator Deb Fischer over campaign advertisements alleging he supported abortion up until birth.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, investigate
On August 15, 2020, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts signed LB 814, establishing dilation and evacuation abort…
On August 15, 2020, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts signed LB 814, establishing dilation and evacuation abortions as a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Labels: Source-linked, Medium, investigate
Dan Osborn supports codifying the protections of Roe v.
Dan Osborn supports codifying the protections of Roe v. Wade into federal law while describing himself as personally pro-life.
Labels: Inferred, Low, investigate
The Ricketts family provided at least $5.1 million to the Protect Women and Children ballot initiative campai…
The Ricketts family provided at least $5.1 million to the Protect Women and Children ballot initiative campaign in 2024, although $1.5 million was later returned.
Labels: Source-linked, Medium, investigate
Nebraska's Initiative 439, which would have established a constitutional right to abortion until fetal viabil…
Nebraska's Initiative 439, which would have established a constitutional right to abortion until fetal viability, failed on November 5, 2024, with 50.99% voting no.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
Dan Osborn's campaign website previously stated he opposed extreme national abortion bans as of March 31 befo…
Dan Osborn's campaign website previously stated he opposed extreme national abortion bans as of March 31 before all mentions of the word 'abortion' were removed from his policy platform.
Labels: Inferred, Low, investigate
Nebraska voters passed Initiative 434 on November 5, 2024, by 54.9% to constitutionally prohibit abortions af…
Nebraska voters passed Initiative 434 on November 5, 2024, by 54.9% to constitutionally prohibit abortions after the first trimester, with exceptions for rape, incest, and maternal life.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, investigate
In 2024, Dan Osborn's campaign issued a cease-and-desist letter to Deb Fischer's campaign regarding claims th…
In 2024, Dan Osborn's campaign issued a cease-and-desist letter to Deb Fischer's campaign regarding claims that he supported abortion up until birth.
Labels: Inferred, Low, investigate
Nebraska's Initiative 434 permits the state legislature to enact additional abortion restrictions within the…
Nebraska's Initiative 434 permits the state legislature to enact additional abortion restrictions within the first trimester up to a total ban, while including exceptions for rape, incest, and medical emergencies.
Labels: Inferred, Low, investigate
During a November 1, 2024 NTV News interview, Dan Osborn supported codifying Roe v.
During a November 1, 2024 NTV News interview, Dan Osborn supported codifying Roe v. Wade while arguing the federal government should not dictate morality, refuting allegations that he supports abortions up to nine months.
Labels: Inferred, Low, investigate
On June 1, 2026, the Washington Free Beacon reported that Dan Osborn removed all references to abortion from…
On June 1, 2026, the Washington Free Beacon reported that Dan Osborn removed all references to abortion from his campaign website.
Labels: Source-linked, Medium, investigate