Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced that Ben Sasse, who served Nebraska as a U.S. senator from 2015-2023, will headline the 2026 Governor’s Summit on Sept. 29, 2026, in Kearney.
“Ben Sasse is a model of courage in the face of adversity,” said Gov. Pillen. "He has served our state admirably, and he has inspired millions of people through his faith and grit. I’m incredibly grateful for his willingness to keynote this year’s Summit.”
“I love Nebraska—this incredible state and these big-hearted neighbors mean the world to me and my family,” said Ben Sasse. “I’m grateful for Governor Pillen’s invitation and eager to spend some time with the next generation of Nebraska leaders.”
A Nebraska native, Senator Sasse is a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where his work focuses on higher education, innovation, technology, American history and culture, and national security. Before joining AEI, he was the president of the University of Florida, a U.S. senator, the president of Midland University, an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He also spent more than a decade advising corporate leadership teams on strategic issues.
The 2026 Governor’s Summit officially kicks off on Monday afternoon, Sept. 28, with a statewide 6 Regions, One Nebraska update. On Monday evening, the Nebraska Diplomats will host a reception and awards banquet.
Tuesday, Sept. 29, is the primary day of the Governor’s Summit. It features remarks from Gov. Pillen, a morning keynote from Ben Sasse, a full slate of breakout sessions, and the second annual Governor’s Youth Summit.
This content is sourced from
Nebraska Department of Economic Development
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
