Update: Questions welcomed Sen. Ben Sasse to the University of Florida on Monday, along with boos and protests. The Nebraska Republican is the only finalist for the job of president and would resign from the Senate if offered it. His visit to Gainesville included separate meetings with students, faculty, and staff—at least one of which was disrupted by opponents, the AP reports, over his stances on same-sex marriage and other LBGTQ issues, as well as his qualifications for the post. "Sasse does not really believe in equality on the basis of sexual orientation," said Nathan Knorst, a senior. "So, how can he adequately represent the student body and faculty and UF’s core values, which are diversity, equity. and inclusion?" Sasse answered: "I've had political positions and policy positions that represent the views of Nebraskans. It's a completely different job to have the job of president of UF." Our original story from Thursday follows:
Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse is the sole finalist to become president of the University of Florida, the school said Thursday, and the Republican senator indicated he will take the job—meaning he will likely resign in the coming weeks, the AP reports. The school said in a statement that its presidential search committee had unanimously recommended Sasse, a decision that will have to be be voted on by the school’s board of trustees and then confirmed by the board of governors. He is to visit the campus on Monday to meet with students, faculty and other members of the university community, the school said. In a statement released by the school, Sasse said he was “thrilled about the opportunity to work alongside one of the nation’s most outstanding faculties.”
Sasse will be one of several Republican critics of former President Donald Trump who won’t be returning to Congress next year-–and one of many who paid a price back home for his antagonism. Though Sasse isn’t up for reelection until 2026, he has faced heavy criticism from members of his state party. And the academic, sometimes acerbic senator who once seemed headed for a presidential run became sidelined amid his party’s embrace of the former president. Sasse’s expected resignation is unlikely to affect the balance of the 50-50 Senate, as Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts would appoint a successor if Sasse resigns before Jan. 3. If Sasse were to leave the Senate after that, when Ricketts retires and leaves office, his successor would appoint Sasse’s replacement. Republican Jim Pillen is heavily favored to win that governor's race.
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Sasse was president of Midland University, a Christian school in eastern Nebraska, before he ran for the Senate. Sasse is a second-term senator who has had a complicated relationship with Republicans in his own state after his outspoken criticism of Trump. He was one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict the former president of “incitement of insurrection” after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Nebraska Republicans reprimanded Sasse but stopped short of censuring him after the impeachment trial. Of the seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment in 2021, two others are retiring. In the House, eight of the ten Republicans who voted for impeachment are either retiring or lost their primaries. (More Ben Sasse stories.)
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