Pirsch ‘strongly considering’ run for AG now
By Deena Winter | Nebraska Watchdog
LINCOLN, Neb. – Omaha Sen. Pete Pirsch said Wednesday he’s strongly considering running for attorney general in light of Attorney General Jon Bruning’s weekend decision to run for governor.
Pirsch was running for state auditor, but said he will talk with his family and supporters about making a run for attorney general instead. His departure from the auditor’s race would throw the race wide open for GOP contenders, given State Auditor Mike Foley’s announcement today that he is staying in the governor’s race. Democrat Sen. Amanda McGill of Lincoln is also running for auditor.
SWITCHAROO: Sen. Pete Pirsch is considering a run for state attorney general now that incumbent Attorney General Jon Bruning has dropped out of the race to run for governor.
“(Bruning’s decision) was unexpected so I am strongly considering running for that position,” he said.
The Republican state lawmaker cited his past experience as a criminal prosecutor, passage of criminal justice bills as a lawmaker and seat on the Nebraska Crime Commission as “tools to make me very impactful in that position.”
A decision will be “forthcoming shortly,” he said.
The only other Republican who has formally announced is Lincoln attorney Doug Peterson. Another Lincoln attorney, Mike Hilgers, is set to make a decision next week.
Pirsch has represented District 4 in the Legislature since 2006, but will be term-limited out of office next year. The attorney is a former Omaha prosecutor and vice president of PBC, Inc.
He is an Omaha native who graduated from the University of Virginia, University of Nebraska College of Law and UNO College of Business. He is married and has two sons.
Contact Deena Winter at deena@nebraskawatchdog.org. Follow Deena on Twitter at @DeenaNEWatchdog
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