Charles Herbster
Charles Herbster | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1954 or 1955 (age 69–70) Falls City, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
Charles W. Herbster (born 1954/1955)[1] is an American agribusiness executive, cattle producer, political donor, and politician. He was an agriculture advisor and chairman of Donald Trump's agriculture and rural advisory committee during the Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign. Herbster was a Republican candidate in the 2014 Nebraska gubernatorial election and is running again in 2022. Herbster is a Republican candidate for Nebraska governor in 2022, to replace Governor Pete Ricketts, who is term-limited.
Early life and education
Herbster was born in Falls City, Nebraska, and graduated from Falls City High School. He attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for two years, but dropped out and returned home after the death of his mother.[2]
Career
Herbster is a cattle producer and owns Herbster Angus Farms in Falls City.[3] Herbster's farm in Falls City began as a homestead in 1847 owned by William McKendry Maddox, Herbster's great-great-grandfather. The ranch passed through Maddox's granddaughter, Leta Meyers Carico, who was Herbster's grandmother and whom Herbster credits as his first teacher and mentor.[4] Herbster stated his farming practice was inspired in part by champion grower, Francis Childs, known for his heavy use of chemicals and deep plowing methods.[5]
He also owns Conklin Co., a Kansas City, Missouri-based manufacturing company, which is structured as a multi-level marketing (MLM) business,[6][7], which he purchased from Bob Conklin with his wife, Judith, in 1992.[8][9] Conklin sells agricultural products including pesticide additives, farm fertilizers, probiotics for livestock, industrial roof coatings, and motor oils. Additional businesses Herbster owns are Herbster Angus Farms in Falls City, Nebraska, and the cattle breeding firm, North American Breeders in Berryville, Virginia.[10] Herbster bought North American Breeders in 2015.[11] As a breeder, Herbster purchased multiple cows for over $100,000 and multiple bulls for over $600,000 from Schaff's Angus Valley. In February 2019, Herbster purchased the highest-priced bull in auction history, paying $1.5 million for a bull called SAV America (SAV stand for Schaff's Angus Valley), which would be used as breeding stock on Herbster's Virginia farm.[12] He later bought a one-year-old Angus bull for $2.14 million at a North Dakota auction.[11] Livestock show magazine, The Showtimes, noted Herbster Angus Farms for the adherence of its cattle to Angus breed standards and along with high value breeders, Herster frequently purchases winning cattle at youth cattle shows as a way to support youth in the industry. This, along with Herbster's activity in high cost cattle breeding operations led to his being inducted into The Showtimes Magazine Hall of Fame in November 2017.[4]
Political involvement
Herbster 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.[13] 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.[13] 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.[13]
Herbster met Donald Trump in 2013 at Mar-a-Lago.[13]
For six weeks, Herbster was a candidate in 2014 Nebraska gubernatorial election.[6][13] He withdrew from the race after concerns were raised about his Nebraska residency.[14][15] He later invested $2.7 million into then-Nebraska state senator Beau McCoy's campaign.[6][16][17] Herbster also hinted to the Omaha World-Herald that he funded dark money ads promoting McCoy and attacking other candidates.[18] McCoy placed third in the Republican primary.[19]
Herbster was listed as a possible pick for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in November, 2016, days after Trumps election.[20] Sonny Perdue was announced to that position in January 2017, after which 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.[21] In 2019, Herbster served as the chairman of Trump's agriculture and rural advisory committee.[3] He served as an agricultural adviser in the Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign.[22]
On January 5, 2021, Herbster participated in a meeting at Trump International Hotel with Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, Tommy Tuberville, Michael Flynn, Peter Navarro, Corey Lewandowski, David Bossie, Rudy Giuliani, and Adam Piper. Txtwire CEO Daniel Beck stated he also attended the meeting, along with Mike Lindell.[23][24] The group discussed how to pressure more members of Congress to object to the Electoral College results that made Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 election.[25][26] Herbster also attended Trump's speech on January 6, 2021. Following the rally, he returned to the White House with Trump family members, and he flew to Florida with Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle after the 2021 United States Capitol attack began.[27][22]
2022 gubernatorial election
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.[28] 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.[22] In 2021, Herbster called Ben Sasse a "Looney Tune Senator."[22] Herbster is opposed to the estate tax in the United States. His opposition to critical race theory is a central part of his gubernatorial campaign.[29]
KMTV reported in June 2021 that Herbster had almost 600 late property tax payments on his various properties in Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska. and Virginia. Herbster responded the funds were used for payroll; however, he gave personal donations totaling millions to political campaigns during this same time period.[30]
Donald Trump endorsed Herbster in late 2021. Herbster has shifted between supporting the idea that Trump won the 2020 election and stating Joe Biden is the "duly elected" President.[31][32] Incumbent governor Pete Ricketts denounced the endorsement.[33] Reid Epstein of the New York Times characterized the Trump endorsement as the "entire rationale" for the campaign.[34]
In April 2022, the Nebraska Examiner published a story stating that Nebraska state senator Julie Slama and seven other women accused Herbster of groping or forcibly kissing them. The allegations were supported by witnesses. He refutes the allegations.[35][36] Two weeks later, a former legislative assistant to State Senator Dave Murman publicly accused Herbster of groping her at the same event in which Slama accused Herbster of groping her.[37][38]
Personal life
Herbster is an evangelical Christian.[13] While a at the University of Nebraska, Herbster married in 1975 fellow student Lorienne Gayle Smith.[39][40] In 1982, He married Judith Ann Wagg, whom he met through his work at Conklin Company.[8]
References
- ^ Breuninger, Kevin (April 19, 2022). "Trump Announces Rally with Nebraska Gubernatorial Candidate Accused of Groping GOP State Senator, Other Women". CNBC. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- ^ "Owner Biography". www.conklin.com. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ^ a b Honan, Kim (February 11, 2019). "Trump advisory chairman buys bull named America for record $2.1m". ABC News. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ a b Charles W. Herbster, The Showtimes Magazine, Issue 57, Nov/Dec 2017, page 67-74
- ^ Lend this guy an ear, Journal Gazette (Mattoon, IL) 7 Jan 2004 Page 1 and 6 [1][2]
- ^ 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 April 15, 2022.
- ^ Philpott, Tom. "Trump's ag czar runs his business like Herbalife". Mother Jones. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- ^ a b Obituary for Judith Ann Herbster, 1955-2017, St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, Missouri) 8 May 2017, page A6[Obituary for Judith Ann Herbster, 1955-2017, St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, Missouri) 8 May 2017, page A6 [3]
- ^ In brief, Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) 19 Feb 1922, Page 33
- ^ Ag groups pushing Herbster for post, Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, NE) 14 Mar 2017, A3 and A5 [4][5]
- ^ a b Salter, Peter (February 24, 2019). "Bull Market: Nebraska rancher pays record $1.5M for 'freak'". Lincoln Journal Star. pp. A1. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Salter, Peter. Freak of a bull sells for $1.5 million, Elko Daily Free Press (Elko, Nevada) 26 Feb 2016 Page A2 [6]
- ^ a b c d e f Kullgren, Ian (July 27, 2016). "Trump's top ag adviser: A kingmaker from the plains". POLITICO. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ "A tale of two houses: Does candidate for NE governor actually live in the state? « Watchdog.org". October 25, 2014. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- ^ Walton, Don. "Sen. Beau McCoy enters GOP governor race". JournalStar.com. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- ^ Walton, Don (August 24, 2013). "McCoy enters GOP race for governor". Lincoln Journal Star. pp. A1. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Bureau, Paul Hammel / World-Herald. "Businessman who donated about $2.7M to Beau McCoy's 2014 gubernatorial bid is now his new boss". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Tysver, Robynn. "Outsiders behind negative TV ads in Nebraska governor's race". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- ^ "Nebraska Secretary of State - Election Night Results - May 15th, 2018". August 4, 2018. Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- ^ Heineman, Herbster pegged as possible cabinet picks, Fremont Tribune (Fremont, NE) 12 Nov, 2016, page A2 [7]
- ^ Bergin, Nicholas (March 13, 2017). "Cattle associations back Nebraska businessman for deputy ag secretary". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Gentzler, Sara (October 29, 2021). "After Ricketts rejection, Herbster touts loyalty to Trump". Fremont Tribune. pp. A4. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Daniel Beck - Trump Hotel!, retrieved April 16, 2022
- ^ Sanderford, Aaron (February 25, 2022). "Herbster was schmoozing with Trump team Jan. 5-6 as they detailed plans to overturn election". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- ^ Sanderford, Aaron (January 6, 2021). "Charles Herbster, who may run for Nebraska governor, was at Trump rally before Capitol violence". Omaha World-Herald.
- ^ Herbster, Charles W. (January 5, 2021). "Herbster, Charles W." Facebook. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- ^ S, Aaron; erford; February 25, Nebraska Examiner; 2022 (February 25, 2022). "Herbster was schmoozing with Trump team Jan. 5-6 as they detailed plans to overturn election". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
{{cite web}}:|last4=has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Walton, Don (November 12, 2020). "Charles Herbster prepares 2022 gubernatorial bid". The Columbus Telegram. pp. B6. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Dunker, Chris (July 16, 2021). "NU faculty say resolution violates policy". Fremont Tribune. pp. A4. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ "Nebraska's Charles Herbster paid property taxes late nearly 600 times". KMTV. June 3, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- ^ Writer, Sara Gentzler World-Herald Staff. "The top four Republican candidates for Nebraska governor agree: Biden is president". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- ^ "Charles Herbster announces run for Nebraska governor". KMTV. April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- ^ Gaarder, Nancy (October 28, 2021). "Trump endorses Herbster for governor". Beatrice Daily Sun. pp. A1. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Epstein, Reid. "In Nebraska, a Trump-Inspired Candidate Cracks Open Divide in the G.O.P." New York Times.
- ^ Sanderford, Aaron (April 14, 2022). "GOP state senator, seven other women say Charles Herbster groped them; he denies allegations". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Paybarah, Azi (April 14, 2022). "Nebraska State Senator Says Candidate for Governor Groped Her". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Papenfuss, Mary (May 1, 2022). "2nd Woman Publicly Accuses Nebraska Candidate Of Groping". HuffPost.
- ^ Stephens, Luna (April 30, 2022). "Second woman accuses Herbster of 'groping' her at dinner event". Omaha World-Herald.
- ^ Smith-Herbster, Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) 2 Feb 1975 Page 24 [8]
- ^ Herbster tapped by Phi Upsilon, Marysville Advocate (Maysville, Kansas) 1 Dec 1977 Page 17 [9]
