Sen. Ben Sasse Benjamin (Ben) Eric SasseMcEnany says Trump will accept result of 'free and fair election' McConnell pushes back on Trump: 'There will be an orderly transition' Trump says he'll sign order aimed at protecting premature babies in appeal to religious voters MORE (R-Neb.) formally announced his 2020 reelection campaign at Millard Airport in Omaha, Neb., on Monday evening.

“We are grateful. We are excited. We are ready to work hard,” said Sasse, accompanied by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R), Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert (R) and Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.).

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"The reason we did this in 2014 and the reason we want to go do this again ... is because America is an experiment. America is an idea. What we said in 2014 is just as true now," he added. "We’re not doing this primarily about 2020. We’re doing this about 2030 and beyond. We’re doing this because of the kind of country that we need to pass along to our kids and grandkids and to your kids and grandkids."

Sasse, a critic of President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE, cited some "troubling stuff" afoot in America, adding that "the crisis of community that we face is extra urgent in our moment" and citing issues ranging from the opioid crisis to "surging racial hatred."

“That is a crisis that we have to solve by teaching it to the next generation,” he said.

In 2014, Sasse won election 64 percent to 31 percent.