Author

Political reporter Aaron Sanderford has tackled various news roles in his 20-plus year career. He has reported on politics, crime, courts, government and business for the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal-Star. He also worked as an assignment editor and editorial writer. He was an investigative reporter at KMTV.
Slama, Spellerberg, Royal, Biar among state treasurer applicants
By: Aaron Sanderford - September 7, 2023
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect a fourth confirmed candidate. LINCOLN — This year, Gov. Jim Pillen has the only vote for state treasurer that matters. Pillen’s appointed successor to John Murante will serve until voters get a say in 2026. The governor has not hinted that he has any favorites among […]
Support Our Schools says it has enough signatures to reach 2024 Nebraska ballot
By: Aaron Sanderford - August 30, 2023
LINCOLN — The teacher-led effort to stop Nebraska’s new tax credit for private K-12 school scholarships from siphoning funds bound for the public treasury said they have turned in more than enough signatures to let voters decide the law’s future. At a press conference Wednesday in the Cornhusker Marriott in downtown Lincoln, the Support Our […]
Ricketts says Nebraska, other rural states won’t be ready for EPA electric vehicle push by 2032
By: Aaron Sanderford - August 29, 2023
OMAHA — U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., amplified his criticism Tuesday of a proposed Biden administration regulation requiring automakers selling vehicles in the U.S. to cut new vehicles’ tailpipe emissions by two-thirds by 2032. He and others backing the fossil fuels and biofuels industry, including corn-based ethanol and soybean-based biodiesel, have argued that the U.S. […]
Who wants to be Nebraska’s next state treasurer? Big names interested
By: Aaron Sanderford - August 28, 2023
LINCOLN — State Treasurer John Murante confirmed last week that he intends to leave his elected office to lead the Nebraska Public Employee Retirement Systems. Speculation about who might replace him as treasurer began within minutes of word that Gov. Jim Pillen would select the replacement for a post that often springboards the holder to […]
U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a conservative who speaks bipartisan, launches 2024 House bid
By: Aaron Sanderford - August 26, 2023
OMAHA — U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a four-term Republican representing the Omaha area in Congress, announced his re-election bid at a fire union hall Saturday flanked by a pair of Nebraska governors and a fellow member of the House. The retired Air Force brigadier general faces the state’s closest federal races and routinely draws credible […]
NU focused on picking search firm and committee helping find next president
By: Aaron Sanderford - August 25, 2023
LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents met in closed session Friday and sketched out a process for regrouping after this week’s unexpected announcement that NU President Ted Carter is leaving to lead The Ohio State University. NU Board of Regents Chairman Tim Clare said the board mapped the “first few steps” toward […]
Nebraska, Douglas County officials celebrate longtime poll workers
By: Aaron Sanderford - August 23, 2023
OMAHA — Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse and Douglas County Board Chair Mary Ann Borgeson celebrated local poll workers who have served over 20 years. The three officials used the ceremony honoring 17 poll workers to draw attention to the need in the Omaha area and across Nebraska […]
Ricketts announces run for election to his appointed seat in U.S. Senate
By: Aaron Sanderford - August 23, 2023
OMAHA — U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts made it official Wednesday, launching a campaign to win election to the Senate seat he was appointed to fill by his successor as governor. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen tapped Ricketts, a two-term governor, to succeed Sen. Ben Sasse in January after Sasse resigned to become president of the University […]
University of Nebraska’s Ted Carter is named the next president at Ohio State
By: Aaron Sanderford - August 22, 2023
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with Carter’s official selection, comments from the Carter and the Ohio State Board of Trustees and reaction from Nebraska. LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska needs a new president next year. NU system President Ted Carter, the former superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy and a vice admiral, […]
Nebraska GOP stops short of curbing power of groups of women, young people
By: Aaron Sanderford - August 20, 2023
NORFOLK, Nebraska — The Nebraska Republican Party stopped short Saturday of eliminating the voting power of four groups representing Republican women and young people on one of the party’s top leadership committees. In the end, proponents pulled their proposal after critics in their own party slammed them for nearly sidelining groups from constituencies that Republicans […]
Kellyanne Conway, in Norfolk, preaches GOP unity at state party gathering
By: Aaron Sanderford - August 19, 2023
NORFOLK, Nebraska — Kellyanne Conway, a pollster and long-time adviser to former President Donald Trump, told a booster club of Nebraska Republicans on Friday that they should stop fighting one another over the 20% of policies they disagree on. Conway, whose former boss often throws elbows at the Republicans he disagrees with, said three years […]
Support Our Schools petition ‘on pace’ for 90k signatures goal
By: Aaron Sanderford - August 18, 2023
LINCOLN — Petition circulators trying to stop Nebraska’s new tax credit for funding scholarships to private K-12 schools say they are on pace to collect enough signatures to place the issue on the ballot in November 2024. Support Our Schools Nebraska had set a goal of collecting 90,000 signatures from registered voters in the state. […]