Fox News reports that Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) is expected to resign.
Sasse, reportedly, is likely to become the next president of the University of Floria.
“First choice”
On Thursday, Sasse posted to social media a link to an article from the Tampa Bay Times, titled, “University of Florida’s finalist for president is Nebraska Sen. Benn Sasse.”
The outlet appears to have gotten this information directly from the university.
The Times reports:
Members of the school’s presidential search committee reached out to more than 700 leaders nationwide, narrowing the field to what they called “a dozen highly qualified diverse candidates,” including nine who were sitting presidents at major research universities. The university declined to name anyone in that group, citing the new law. Sasse, who is two years into his second Senate term, was the search committee’s first choice by unanimous vote.
“Most interesting university in America”
Sasse also has put out a tweet containing two statements that he has made on the matter.
In the first statement, Sasse says:
The University of Florida is uniquely positioned to lead this country through an era of disruption. The single biggest challenge our nation faces is the radical disruption of work. Technology is changing everything about where, when, why, what, and how Americans work – and so it’s changing our homes, neighborhoods, and communities too. Melissa and I ahve been pursued by wonderful institutions the past two years, but we’ve resisted being named a finalist. This time is different because the University of Florida is very differet: I think Florida is the most interesting university in America right now.
The second statement reads:
UF is the most important institution in the nation’s most economically dynamic state. Washington partisanship isn’t going to solve these workforce challenges – new institutions and entrepreneurial communities are going to have to spearhead this work. If UF want to go big, I’m excited about the wide range of opportunities. I’m delighted to be in conversation with the leadership of this special community about how we might together build a vision for UF to be the nation’s most-dynamic, blod, future-oriented university.
What now?
Next up, Sasse is scheduled to visit the University of Florida’s Gainesville campus on Monday, where he will meet with students, faculty, and other members of the community. He will also answer questions while there.
Then, Sasse will return to the school on Nov. 1 for an interview with the university’s board of trustees.
Assuming everything goes according to plan, Sasse would not be expected to resign from the U.S. Senate until December, and he would not start at the University of Florida until February.
On the political side of things, Sasse will not be missed by most Republicans, who have become fed up with his anti-Trump stance – Sasse did vote to convict Trump during Trump’s second impeachment – and his willingness to, at times, side with Democrats on key issues.