Gov. Jim Pillen was rushed to the hospital after being thrown from his horse on Sunday, Fox News reported. The 68-year-old Nebraska Republican remains in intensive care with multiple injuries but is expected to recover.
The governor has received care for several injuries sustained after his family's newly acquired horse bucked him off. "Gov. Pillen was transported to Nebraska Medicine Sunday afternoon after a horseback riding accident while riding with his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter near Columbus," a news release from Pillen's office shared.
"The Governor’s injuries included minor lacerations to his spleen and kidney, seven broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung resulting from the rib damage, and a minor fracture in one of his vertebrae. There were no injuries to his neck, head, nervous system, or additional internal organs," the news release added.
Governor Jim Pillen is in stable condition after a horseback riding accident.
His injuries included minor lacerations to his spleen and kidney, seven broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung resulting from the rib damage, and a minor fracture in one of his vertebrae. pic.twitter.com/325YqVz0le
— Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (@NEMAtweets) December 23, 2024
Despite so many injuries, Pillen is expected to make a full recovery. To spur his healing along, doctors recommended a minimally invasive procedure to repair the bleeding in his spleen.
"The procedure took less than an hour and included anesthesia. During that time, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly briefly acted as Governor, pursuant to the Nebraska Constitution – a transfer of power which happens regularly when the Governor travels outside of the state," the news release stated.
"The procedure was a success, and the Governor caught the second half of the Nebraska men’s basketball win over Murray State in his recovery room, while chatting and joking with his family and team. In summary, the Governor’s injuries were serious but not life-threatening and could have been much worse," the governor's office shared to reassure constitutents.
Pillen will remain hospitalized mainly for observation but will continue working from his hospital room in the meantime. The news release thanked those involved in his care and recovery.
"Gov. Pillen, First Lady Suzanne, and their family are enormously grateful to the teams at Nebraska Medicine, Columbus Community Hospital, and the EMS professionals who transported him after the accident. The Governor looks forward to returning to his office soon after Christmas and wishes a blessed and safe holiday to all Nebraskans," the news release concluded.
Pillen was elected to office in 2022 after defeating Democratic challenger state Sen. Carol Blood, according to the Associated Press. It was the first time he'd run for any public office.
Gov. Pete Ricketts was term-limited, leaving the office up for grabs, though the state has a 24-year streak of electing Republicans for the job. Pillen was the clear choice for Nebraskans, perhaps because of and not despite his inexperience in politics.
Pillen has spent his career as a veterinarian and hog farm owner and serves on the Board of Regents at the University of Nebraska. During the campaign, Pillen won popularity for his strong conservative views, including lower taxes, fewer mandates, and shrinking the size of government.
That message from a bonafide businessman was enough for him to best the GOP's Trump-endorsed businessman Charles Herbster. After Pillen took office, he began an aggressive push to outlaw abortion and so-called gender-affirming care for minors in Nebraska which only cements his conservative legacy.
It's a miracle that Pillen wasn't more seriously injured in this event with his horse. Perhaps God knew that Pillen had too much work left for the people of Nebraska, especially the unborn and vulnerable children.
