Ricketts-aligned PAC uses recently deceased Democrat’s name in ads attacking Nebraska gubernatorial candidate

A PAC aligned with Nebraska’s Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts has continued to put out ads mentioning former U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford, who died last month, in an attempt to take down Republican gubernatorial candidate Brett Lindstrom. 

The political action committee, called Say No to RINOs (an acronym for “Republicans In Name Only”), has sent text messages and mailers to Nebraskans that mention former Democratic Congressman Ashford in the present tense since his passing on April 19. The group sent a campaign text in early May that read, “Democrats are supporting RINO Brett Lindstrom for Governor!” citing Ashford as one of those supporters.

The text message paid for by Say No to RINOs.

Say No to RINOs also sent out anti-Lindstrom mail in early May that read: “Lindstrom is endorsed by Omaha Democrat Brad Ashford. (The last Democrat to represent Nebraska in Congress.)”

Ashford — a longtime state senator from Omaha who served one term as Nebraska’s Congressman from the 2nd District after unseating Republican incumbent Lee Terry in 2015 — pitched himself to Nebraskans as an independent-minded moderate. 

He switched parties several times during his political career, garnering criticism from Republicans deeming him to be insufficiently loyal to the party’s ideology. He was a registered Democrat at the time of his death, which was due to complications from brain cancer, his family announced. He was 72.

Say No to RINOs started putting out Lindstrom attack ads across the state in April, the Lincoln Journal Star reported. The group’s listed address is owned by Andrew La Grone, a former Republican state senator, who is also listed as the group’s treasurer. 

La Grone aligns himself with Ricketts — who appointed him to the state legislature in 2018 to fill a vacant seat — though Ricketts’ campaign told the Journal Star that the governor has not donated to Say No to RINOs nor funded any dark money ads against Lindstrom. Ricketts is not running for governor again due to term limits. 

Say No to RINOs did not respond for comment by press time.

The race has heated up ahead of the primary this Tuesday, where Lindstrom is head-to-head with two other frontrunners: businessman Charles Herbster and hog producer Jim Pillen. A poll commissioned by Pillen’s campaign showed the three candidates in a near tie as of this month, the Omaha World-Herald reported. 

Ashford endorsed both Lindstrom and Democratic Sen. Carol Blood before his death.