Omaha millionaire businessman Pete Ricketts has won the Republican nomination for Nebraska governor, squeaking out a victory in a 5-man race to replace Gov. Dave Heineman, who is term-limited

Heineman had endorsed 3-term Attorney General Jon Bruning and had campaigned with him in the closing days, but Ricketts, the unsuccessful GOP challenger to U-S Senator Ben Nelson in 2006, was able to take the race by a little over 2,000 votes out of about 220,000 cast or 26.5% to 25.5%.

State Senator Beau McCoy was a close 3rd with 20.9% while State Auditor Mike Foley wasn’t far back at 19.3%.  Another State Senator, Tom Carlson, and attorney Bryan Slote each got about 4% of the vote.

Ricketts, a former executive at the TD Ameritrade investment company founded by his father, now faces Democrat Chuck Hassebrook in November.  Hassebrook, a former University of Nebraska regent who headed the Center for Rural Affairs before resigning to run for governor, was unopposed.

Ricketts enters that race a big favorite since Democrats currently hold no statewide or Congressional offices and haven’t held the governorship since Ben Nelson finished his second term 15 years ago.

Ricketts won endorsements from former Nebraska Govs. Charles Thone and Kay Orr, as well as from national political figures embraced by the Tea Party including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.