Charles Herbster
Charles W. Herbster is an American agribusiness executive and politician. He is a cattle producer and Republican political donor. Herbster was a candidate in the 2014 Nebraska gubernatorial election and is running again in 2022.
Career
Herbster is a cattle producer and owns Herbster Angus Farms in Falls City, Nebraska.[1] He owns Conklin Co., a Kansas City, Missouri-based manufacturing company.[2] In 2015, Herbster bought North American Breeders in Berryville, Virginia.[3]
Herbster is a conservative evangelical Christian and a Republican political donor.[4] He donated $500 to the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2004 and $2,300 to a Republican candidate in the 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana.[4] In 2012, Herbster donated $91,600 to a PAC supporting the Mitt Romney 2012 presidential campaign, $10,000 towards the Nebraska Republican Party, and $2,500 for Deb Fischer's campaign.[4] From 2013 to 2015, Herbster contributed nearly $100,000 towards the Republican National Committee and $10,000 to Robert Aderholt. In 2014, Herbster created the Republican-leaning Ag American super-PAC and contributed $100,000 between 2014 and 2015.[4]
Herbster met Donald Trump in 2013 at Mar-a-Lago.[4]
For six weeks, Herbster was a candidate in 2014 Nebraska gubernatorial election.[2][4] He later invested $860,000 into his friend and business partner, Beau McCoy's campaign.[2][5]
In 2017, the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska and 13 other trade groups requested that U.S. president Donald Trump select Herbster as the United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.[6] In 2019, Herbster served as the chairman of Donald Trump's agriculture and rural advisory committee.[1] He bought a one-year-old Angus bull for $2.14 million at a North Dakota auction.[1] Herbster also bought another Bull for $1.5 million in a different auction.[3] He served as an agricultural adviser in the Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign.[7]
Herbster was attended Trump's speech on January 6, 2021 and left the area before the United States Capitol attack.[7]
In November 2020, Herbster established a campaign committee in preparation for a second gubernatorial race. He selected Omaha City Councilwoman, Aimee Melton as his campaign treasurer.[8] On April 26, 2021, Herbster declared his candidacy in the 2022 Nebraska gubernatorial election. Until September 2021, Corey Lewandowski served as a senior advisor before he was let go amid sexual harassment allegations.[7] In October 2021, Herbster was endorsed by Donald Trump.[7] Incumbent governor Pete Ricketts denounced the endorsement.[9] Herbster called Ben Sasse a "Looney Tune Senator."[7] Herbster is opposed to the estate tax in the United States.[4] His opposition to critical race theory is a central part of his gubernatorial campaign.[10] In April 2022, the Nebraska Examiner, a nonprofit and nonpartisan newsroom, published a story stating that Nebraska state senator Julie Slama and seven other women accused Herbster of groping or forcibly kissing them. He refutes the allegations.[11][12]
References
- ^ a b c Honan, Kim (2019-02-11). "Trump advisory chairman buys bull named America for record $2.1m". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ a b c Tysver, Robynn (September 13, 2013). "Governor's race dropout Herbster donates $860,000 in campaign assets to Beau McCoy". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ a b Salter, Peter (2019-02-24). "Bull Market: Nebraska rancher pays record $1.5M for 'freak'". Lincoln Journal Star. pp. A1. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kullgren, Ian. "Trump's top ag adviser: A kingmaker from the plains". POLITICO. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ Walton, Don (2013-08-24). "McCoy enters GOP race for governor". Lincoln Journal Star. pp. A1. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ Bergin, Nicholas (March 13, 2017). "Cattle associations back Nebraska businessman for deputy ag secretary". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ a b c d e Gentzler, Sara (2021-10-29). "After Ricketts rejection, Herbster touts loyalty to Trump". Fremont Tribune. pp. A4. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ Walton, Don (2020-11-12). "Charles Herbster prepares 2022 gubernatorial bid". The Columbus Telegram. pp. B6. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ Gaarder, Nancy (2021-10-28). "Trump endorses Herbster for governor". Beatrice Daily Sun. pp. A1. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ Dunker, Chris (2021-07-16). "NU faculty say resolution violates policy". Fremont Tribune. pp. A4. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ Sanderford, Aaron (2022-04-14). "GOP state senator, seven other women say Charles Herbster groped them; he denies allegations". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ Paybarah, Azi (2022-04-14). "Nebraska State Senator Says Candidate for Governor Groped Her". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-15.