LINCOLN- Governor Pete Ricketts and his family members have spent nearly $1 million dollars on this election cycle in an effort to elect more conservative lawmakers, and to defeat the trio of gambling initiatives that will appear before voters on Tuesday.

The Republican governor had donated more than $138,000 directly to state legislative candidates through Oct. 19, according to state campaign reports, and has contributed $240,000 over the past two years to the Nebraska Republican Party, which has spent heavily in legislative races. Ricketts recently provided $350,000 toward defeating a trio of measures on the November ballot to allow casino games at state thoroughbred racetracks. The governor’s parents also donated $200,000 this year to the Nebraska GOP.

Gov. Ricketts and his family have been major contributors to political campaigns and causes for many years, nationally and in Nebraska. Joe and Marlene Ricketts contributed $1,706,882 to state campaigns between June 10, 1999, and May 2, 2018, according to an Omaha World-Herald database, and the governor spent $1,824,520 between Oct. 31, 2001, and May 2, 2018.

A Ricketts political spokeswoman said the governor is exercising his right to free speech and to support conservatives.

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