Fischer to jump into U.S. Senate race tomorrow

Valentine Sen. Deb Fischer will announce her candidacy for the U.S. Senate during press conferences tomorrow in Omaha and at her childhood home in Lincoln.

Sen. Deb Fischer of Valentine

According to a press release, Fischer will make a “special announcement regarding Sen. Fischer’s plans for the future” during the press conference at 11 a.m. at her mother’s home in Lincoln, kicking off appearances at several other Nebraska cities.

That means five Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination to take on U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson next year — assuming the Democrat runs for re-election. She joins Schuyler investment adviser Pat Flynn, Omaha truck driver Spencer Zimmerman, Attorney General Jon Bruning and State Treasurer Don Stenberg.

Fischer, 60, has represented Valentine in the Legislature since 2005, and this year gained prominence by successfully shepherding a roads funding bill that will designate a portion of the state’s existing 5-cent sales tax revenue toward road construction projects, beginning in 2013.