Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Pleasure to welcome Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen in the program.
Been a while Governor, Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Good morning. How's everybody doing today?
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Excellent? Good to have you on. As we said here
on the eve of election day, i'd like to get
to start with your thirty thousand foot view of how
things stand in the big horse race that's Trump Harris
going into election day tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Yeah, I think that the truth is getting out and
people are understanding the key issues right. The key issues
are security on our border, global national security. We need
strong leadership. And let's just cut the noise out. It's
the economy. Who's been better off? Are you better off
today or than four years ago? It's an easy, easy answer.
(00:48):
And we need new policy, and we need Donald Trump
and the presidency.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Now. We have, as always every election, several legislative seats
for election or reelection, depending on if an individual's been
term limited or not. And we saw this past couple
of sessions that conservatives are close but still a vote
or two short on the big issues that you'd like
(01:15):
to see to move things along. Let's take some of
the key ones. Governor, how do you see overall this
race shaking out for the legislature.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yeah, well, it's a really really important piece. As I've
said from day one as the governor Nebraska, we have
to have more like minded people so that we can
get policy passed that support our values, that support business,
that support us so that Nebraska can grow. And we
have issues to fix to be able to do that,
(01:46):
and so getting the right people elected that can come
and be willing to solve problems and be focused on Nebraska.
And yeah, it feels really good at this stage. We
have a really great opportunity to be at thirty four,
thirty five, possibly even thirty six conservatives. Looks like an
(02:10):
independent will win, So we have tremendous opportunities have a
very conservative legislature starting in January, and that's really really
good for Nebraska to solve a property tax crisis and
to solve a lot of other problems to make Nebraska
a great business friendly place that'll be great for generations
to come.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Which seats are you anticipating flipping of which ones have
been either in the hands of Rhinos or Democrats that
might be in your corner after tomorrow?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, well, certainly in Fremont, there's two Republicans running against
each other, So that's an automatic. We obviously have an
open seat in Value and there's a real good shot
that that could take place. We also have a very
very strong contested race in District forty nine in Gretna.
(03:06):
It's hard to believe how a Democrat would have ever
gotten elected in Greta. I think they're twenty five percent
more Republicans in that district.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
That's Jen Day, right, Yes, that's Jen Day.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah. So Bob Anderson really really strong conservative that understands
how to fix problems. He's been a lifetime public servant.
Uh and you know it will those are those are
really important seats. Obviously, we've got we've got a race
that done in district in Lincoln that we have a
(03:44):
great shot to flip. And so there's a there's a
number of seats that are are able to be flipped.
And the candidates have been working really, really, really hard.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
And you're talking District five two in Omaha, which is
Mike McDonald's district. Mike became one of your best friends
in the last year of his tenure in the legislature.
And now you've got Gilbert Ayala, who has run a lot,
He's been in and out of this race quite a
bit and never been able to win it. Going up
against Margo Juarez, who is probably the entrenched Democrat that
(04:18):
they've elected a long time in South Omaha. Do you
think you can get that one?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
I would I would say that's going to be a
that's going to be the election night call. So just
going to depend on the voter turnout. There.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
You had an enormously strong and powerful ally in District
thirty nine and and she's she's term limited. How do
you see this race between Sorrentino and Jimus and District
thirty nine.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Yeah, Well, Tony Sorrentino is a first class person, tremendous.
He's been a long time executive in Omaha. He knows business,
he believes in running government like a business. He has
worked really, really hard. We expect him to win convincently
and to be a tremendous representative in the unicamera.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
This is this is an interesting one because you've had
some Republicans that have not been reliable, and yet you've
stayed pretty much out of this. We've seen a lot
of endorsements from Pete Ricketts, We've seen a lot of
endorsements from Johnny Rogers, but we haven't seen a lot
of endorsements from you, that's true. Was that a choice
of yours or did people leave you alone?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Well, you know, number one, I'm I believe in the team.
There's a number of people that I have preferences in,
But as governor, I don't believe that I should be
picking Republicans over Republicans. I just don't believe in that.
I believe in encouraging people to run, and then if
(06:03):
somebody's handpicked, that just decreases the number of people being
encouraged to run. So I'm an encourager. Obviously, I've been
working very hard to help Republicans be Democrats and that's
what I've been focused on. Obviously, I've been encouraging and
there's races that I would have a preference on, but
(06:25):
you know, I believe the people in the districts should
be winning the races. And you know, I'm elected to
I'm elected to work for the people. I'm not elected
to tell people how to vote.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
You know, abundit's all across the country have really been surprise,
and I'm focused on on the Senate race between deb
Fisher and Dan Osborne. It's much closer than anybody would
have anticipated, how do you see this one going?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Yeah, well, center Fisher is going to win. But it's
a crisis. It's a crisis of what's taking place. Some
people said, well X and Z about Senator Fisher. Nobody's
worked harder. This has nothing to do with what or
what's going on. Senator Fisher is a victim of big
(07:13):
time politics from the coast there's been Dan Osborne hasn't
raised a dollar by himself. This is nothing but twenty
five million dollars coming from the coastline, dark blue money
with no face behind it, trying to steal a vote,
and trying to change the values of Nebraska. It's things
(07:33):
that a few governors from other states have told me
will be happening. I said, oh, not in Nebraska. But
it's sure as heck is. I just can't thank everybody
enough that have stepped out to help. Senator Fisher a
lifetime public servant. She has more seniority than we've had
from Nebraska in the Senate in thirty five to forty years.
(07:55):
She's an extraordinary voice. She has to win, going to
win by five day points, and she's working and she's
run across the state with the team. I'm not able
to make it with them today because of a bunch
of other commitments, but hard work and a lot of
people stepping up and helping, and that that's maybe the
message for all of us Conservatives. All of us have
(08:18):
to do more than work hard. We have to get
more involved in the political process because the other side
seems to have an unlimited amount of cash to do
these great a barrowing season.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
What do you mean you can't make it.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Well? I'm raising being Scribner and Omaha and Holdridge today
that I made commitments and I'll be in front of
a lot of people singing the same song that everybody
else is.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
All right, God, thanks always, good to have you on, appreciate.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Hey, thanks for having me. And you know, maybe the
last thing for everybody, it's it's critical. The greatest thing
of democracy is to vote. If we don't vote, we
chip away at democracy. It's critical that we go far
beyond seventy five percent of Republicans voting. We have to
get out to vote.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Amen. Governor Jim Pillet
Pleasure to welcome Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen in the program.
Been a while Governor, Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Good morning. How's everybody doing today?
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Excellent? Good to have you on. As we said here
on the eve of election day, i'd like to get
to start with your thirty thousand foot view of how
things stand in the big horse race that's Trump Harris
going into election day tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Yeah, I think that the truth is getting out and
people are understanding the key issues right. The key issues
are security on our border, global national security. We need
strong leadership. And let's just cut the noise out. It's
the economy. Who's been better off? Are you better off
today or than four years ago? It's an easy, easy answer.
(00:48):
And we need new policy, and we need Donald Trump
and the presidency.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Now. We have, as always every election, several legislative seats
for election or reelection, depending on if an individual's been
term limited or not. And we saw this past couple
of sessions that conservatives are close but still a vote
or two short on the big issues that you'd like
(01:15):
to see to move things along. Let's take some of
the key ones. Governor, how do you see overall this
race shaking out for the legislature.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yeah, well, it's a really really important piece. As I've
said from day one as the governor Nebraska, we have
to have more like minded people so that we can
get policy passed that support our values, that support business,
that support us so that Nebraska can grow. And we
have issues to fix to be able to do that,
(01:46):
and so getting the right people elected that can come
and be willing to solve problems and be focused on Nebraska.
And yeah, it feels really good at this stage. We
have a really great opportunity to be at thirty four,
thirty five, possibly even thirty six conservatives. Looks like an
(02:10):
independent will win, So we have tremendous opportunities have a
very conservative legislature starting in January, and that's really really
good for Nebraska to solve a property tax crisis and
to solve a lot of other problems to make Nebraska
a great business friendly place that'll be great for generations
to come.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Which seats are you anticipating flipping of which ones have
been either in the hands of Rhinos or Democrats that
might be in your corner after tomorrow?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, well, certainly in Fremont, there's two Republicans running against
each other, So that's an automatic. We obviously have an
open seat in Value and there's a real good shot
that that could take place. We also have a very
very strong contested race in District forty nine in Gretna.
(03:06):
It's hard to believe how a Democrat would have ever
gotten elected in Greta. I think they're twenty five percent
more Republicans in that district.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
That's Jen Day, right, Yes, that's Jen Day.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah. So Bob Anderson really really strong conservative that understands
how to fix problems. He's been a lifetime public servant.
Uh and you know it will those are those are
really important seats. Obviously, we've got we've got a race
that done in district in Lincoln that we have a
(03:44):
great shot to flip. And so there's a there's a
number of seats that are are able to be flipped.
And the candidates have been working really, really, really hard.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
And you're talking District five two in Omaha, which is
Mike McDonald's district. Mike became one of your best friends
in the last year of his tenure in the legislature.
And now you've got Gilbert Ayala, who has run a lot,
He's been in and out of this race quite a
bit and never been able to win it. Going up
against Margo Juarez, who is probably the entrenched Democrat that
(04:18):
they've elected a long time in South Omaha. Do you
think you can get that one?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
I would I would say that's going to be a
that's going to be the election night call. So just
going to depend on the voter turnout. There.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
You had an enormously strong and powerful ally in District
thirty nine and and she's she's term limited. How do
you see this race between Sorrentino and Jimus and District
thirty nine.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Yeah, Well, Tony Sorrentino is a first class person, tremendous.
He's been a long time executive in Omaha. He knows business,
he believes in running government like a business. He has
worked really, really hard. We expect him to win convincently
and to be a tremendous representative in the unicamera.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
This is this is an interesting one because you've had
some Republicans that have not been reliable, and yet you've
stayed pretty much out of this. We've seen a lot
of endorsements from Pete Ricketts, We've seen a lot of
endorsements from Johnny Rogers, but we haven't seen a lot
of endorsements from you, that's true. Was that a choice
of yours or did people leave you alone?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Well, you know, number one, I'm I believe in the team.
There's a number of people that I have preferences in,
But as governor, I don't believe that I should be
picking Republicans over Republicans. I just don't believe in that.
I believe in encouraging people to run, and then if
(06:03):
somebody's handpicked, that just decreases the number of people being
encouraged to run. So I'm an encourager. Obviously, I've been
working very hard to help Republicans be Democrats and that's
what I've been focused on. Obviously, I've been encouraging and
there's races that I would have a preference on, but
(06:25):
you know, I believe the people in the districts should
be winning the races. And you know, I'm elected to
I'm elected to work for the people. I'm not elected
to tell people how to vote.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
You know, abundit's all across the country have really been surprise,
and I'm focused on on the Senate race between deb
Fisher and Dan Osborne. It's much closer than anybody would
have anticipated, how do you see this one going?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Yeah, well, center Fisher is going to win. But it's
a crisis. It's a crisis of what's taking place. Some
people said, well X and Z about Senator Fisher. Nobody's
worked harder. This has nothing to do with what or
what's going on. Senator Fisher is a victim of big
(07:13):
time politics from the coast there's been Dan Osborne hasn't
raised a dollar by himself. This is nothing but twenty
five million dollars coming from the coastline, dark blue money
with no face behind it, trying to steal a vote,
and trying to change the values of Nebraska. It's things
(07:33):
that a few governors from other states have told me
will be happening. I said, oh, not in Nebraska. But
it's sure as heck is. I just can't thank everybody
enough that have stepped out to help. Senator Fisher a
lifetime public servant. She has more seniority than we've had
from Nebraska in the Senate in thirty five to forty years.
(07:55):
She's an extraordinary voice. She has to win, going to
win by five day points, and she's working and she's
run across the state with the team. I'm not able
to make it with them today because of a bunch
of other commitments, but hard work and a lot of
people stepping up and helping, and that that's maybe the
message for all of us Conservatives. All of us have
(08:18):
to do more than work hard. We have to get
more involved in the political process because the other side
seems to have an unlimited amount of cash to do
these great a barrowing season.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
What do you mean you can't make it.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Well? I'm raising being Scribner and Omaha and Holdridge today
that I made commitments and I'll be in front of
a lot of people singing the same song that everybody
else is.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
All right, God, thanks always, good to have you on, appreciate.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Hey, thanks for having me. And you know, maybe the
last thing for everybody, it's it's critical. The greatest thing
of democracy is to vote. If we don't vote, we
chip away at democracy. It's critical that we go far
beyond seventy five percent of Republicans voting. We have to
get out to vote.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Amen. Governor Jim Pillet
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