On September 24, 2026, Pete Ricketts cast one of the votes that defeated, 49 to 50, a resolution to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran, as gasoline cost 45 percent more than before the war. He had cast a deciding vote to confirm Pete Hegseth, whose department led the war. The Nebraska senator voted against extending the enhanced health insurance tax credits in June and December 2025 before they expired.
Ricketts also voted against ending the emergency behind the global tariffs in a 49-49 vote, and against budget measures to keep tariffs from raising grocery prices and electricity bills. As Nebraska governor in 2022, he refused $120 million in federal rent aid for Nebraskans.
Pete Ricketts's Votes and Actions on Prices, Premiums, Rent and Energy Costs
- Ricketts Voted Against Extending the Health Insurance Tax Credits Before They Expired in 2025. On June 30, 2025, Pete Ricketts voted no on waiving budget rules for an amendment to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, which failed 47 to 53. On December 11, 2025, he voted no on cloture for S. 3385, which would have extended them; it got 51 votes, short of the 60 needed. The credits expired at the end of 2025, and Marketplace enrollees' premium payments rose 58 percent on average in 2026, from $113 to $178 a month, by KFF's count.
- Ricketts Cast One of the Votes That Kept U.S. Forces in the Iran War in September 2026. On September 24, 2026, Ricketts voted no on H.Con.Res. 89, the House-passed resolution directing the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran. It was rejected 49 to 50, so his vote was one it could not lose. Earlier he voted no on motions to discharge Iran war powers resolutions on March 4, March 18, March 24, April 15 and April 22, 2026; each failed. Moody's economist Mark Zandi estimates the war has cost the average household almost $2,000, including $1,100 in higher energy prices, $540 in higher interest rates.
- Ricketts Cast a Deciding Vote to Confirm the Defense Secretary Who Led the Iran War. On January 24, 2025, Ricketts voted to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense; the Senate split 50 to 50 and the Vice President broke the tie, so Hegseth would not have been confirmed without his vote. Hegseth's department has led the Iran war, and in October 2026 the Energy Information Administration expected winter heating costs to be 21% higher for households that heat with oil.
- Ricketts Cast One of the Votes That Kept the Global Tariffs in April 2025. On April 30, 2025, Ricketts voted no on ending the emergency behind the "reciprocal" tariffs; it failed 49 to 49. New York Fed economists found tariffs had added 2.9 percentage points to goods price inflation by February 2026, and the Yale Budget Lab estimates the tariffs now in force cost households about $1,100 a year.
- Ricketts Voted Against Budget Measures to Shield Grocery Shoppers and Consumers From Tariff and War Prices. On April 4, 2025, Ricketts voted no on an amendment for "preventing Trump's tariffs from increasing the cost of groceries" and everyday goods, which failed 46 to 53. On April 22, 2026, he voted no on waiving budget rules for an amendment ensuring consumers are protected from price increases tied to tariffs and the Iran war, which failed 47 to 51, and the same day voted no on a reserve fund relating to grocery costs, which also failed. Tariffs accounted for 0.2 to 0.4 percentage points of core inflation in 2026, the Minneapolis Fed found.
- Ricketts Voted Against Rules to Block Bills That Raise Electricity Bills in 2025 and 2026. On February 20, 2025, Ricketts voted no on a point of order against legislation that would raise energy costs, "including higher monthly electricity bills," which failed 47 to 53. On April 23, 2026, he voted no on waiving budget rules for a point of order against legislation "that would not decrease home electricity bills," which failed 48 to 50. Energy Innovation projects the law Ricketts voted for in July 2025, with related federal energy actions, will add an average of $790 per household in 2035 to Nebraska household energy costs.
- As Nebraska Governor, Ricketts Turned Down $120 Million in Federal Rent Aid and Vetoed the Bill to Take It in 2022. In January 2022, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts said Nebraska will not apply for a second round of federal emergency rental aid, and "The $120 million in rental aid earmarked for Nebraska will be distributed to other states." On March 29, 2022, he vetoed Legislative Bill 1073, the measure that attempted to force his hand to apply for the funds; the Legislature fell one vote short of overriding the veto. Renters in Nebraska's 91 counties outside Omaha and Lincoln lost access to the aid, which paid back rent and utility bills, and the missed deadlines meant the redirection of much of the original $120 million to other states. His successor accepted the roughly $48 million that remained in 2023.
- Ricketts Backed the Iran War While Saying It Raised Gas Prices for Nebraska Families. On August 12, 2026, Ricketts said the United States should "keep the pressure on Iran, blocking the ports, the sanctions, and continuing to do military strikes." Three days later in Hastings he said: "We know that the conflict in Iran does put pressure on families here because of the rising gas prices," while calling the war necessary. War in the Middle East has driven fertilizer prices up more than 30% since February 2026, Nebraska farmers told KOLN, and an economist told KTIV in June 2026 that Nebraska households were paying up to $150 more a month on gas.
What Higher Prices Mean for Nebraska Households Under the Policies Pete Ricketts Voted For
- Gasoline. AAA prices compiled by Visual Capitalist show Nebraska gasoline up $1.45 a gallon, 56.1 percent, from $2.59 to $4.04 between February 18 and August 20, 2026.
- Tariffs. The tariffs imposed since January 2025 have cost Nebraska an estimated $650 million, equivalent to $789 per Nebraska household, by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation's tracker.
- Health premiums. Nebraska's effectuated marketplace enrollment fell 23 percent in 2026 after the credits expired, from 130,407 to 100,622 people. Before they expired, KFF estimated that a 60-year-old couple in Nebraska's 3rd District earning $85,000 would see their monthly ACA premium payment jump 434%.
- Energy bills (projection). Energy Innovation projects Nebraska households will pay an additional $6.8 billion for energy through 2035 because of the law and related federal energy actions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pete Ricketts on Cost of living
What is Pete Ricketts's record on the cost of living under Trump?
Pete Ricketts voted against extending the enhanced health insurance tax credits, after which enrollees' premium payments rose sharply, and voted against ending the global tariff emergency in a 49-49 vote. Ricketts cast deciding votes to confirm Pete Hegseth, whose department led the Iran war, and to defeat a September 2026 resolution to end U.S. hostilities with Iran, as Nebraska gas prices rose by more than half.
Did Pete Ricketts vote to end the Iran war?
No. Pete Ricketts voted against the House-passed resolution to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran on September 24, 2026, which failed 49 to 50, and against five earlier motions to bring war powers resolutions to the floor. He said in August 2026 that the war does put pressure on families here because of the rising gas prices.
Did Pete Ricketts turn down rental assistance for Nebraska?
Yes. As governor in 2022, Pete Ricketts refused to apply for the second round of federal emergency rental aid, about $120 million, and vetoed the bill that would have made him apply, saying the subsidy would make families "more reliant on government." Of the state's first round for the 91 counties outside Omaha and Lincoln, his administration shifted about $97 million, largely to Omaha and Lincoln.
Last updated: 2026-10-25