Ben Sasse, a former U.S. Senator from Nebraska and onetime President of the University of Florida (UF), has been diagnosed with metastasized, stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

He announced the diagnosis in a statement posted to X, saying that the disease is terminal and he is now “on the clock.”

“This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I’ll cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die,” Sasse said.

He described advanced pancreatic cancer as “a death sentence,” while also reflecting that mortality is a universal condition.

“I already had a death sentence before last week too — we all do,” he said.

Sasse, 53, has long been a distinctive figure in American public life, blending conservative politics with academic training and an emphasis on institutions, civic culture and constitutional norms.

Raised in Plainview, Nebraska, he earned degrees from Harvard and Yale, completing a doctorate in history with a focus on American political development. He served in former President George W. Bush’s administration as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Planning and Evaluation, focusing on long-term entitlement and demographic issues. He later became President of Midland University in Nebraska.

Sasse entered the U.S. Senate in 2015 after winning Nebraska’s 2014 race as an outsider candidate critical of Washington dysfunction. He became nationally prominent for his willingness to publicly challenge President Donald Trump, despite voting conservatively on most policy matters.

Notably, he was among a small group of Republican Senators who voted to convict Trump during impeachment proceedings, a stance that made him a polarizing figure within his party.

In 2022, Sasse resigned from the Senate to become UF President, returning to academia amid intense debate over politics and public higher education. He stepped down from the role in 2023, citing health-related reasons involving his family, and largely withdrew from public life.

After his departure, it was revealed that while President, Sasse tripled his office’s spending, with most of it covering lucrative consulting contracts and high-paying positions for GOP allies.

Sasse wrote Tuesday that his time away from politics allowed his family to establish “new rhythms.”

Much of his cancer announcement focused on his wife, Melissa, and their three children. He described milestones including his daughter Corrie’s commissioning into the U.S. Air Force and flight training, his daughter Alex’s early college graduation while teaching advanced science courses, and his 14-year-old son Breck learning to drive.

“This is hard for someone wired to work and build,” Sasse said, “but harder still as a husband and a dad.” He praised his siblings and close friends, quoting one who told him, “Sure, you’re on the clock, but we’re all on the clock.”

He called death “a wicked thief,” but emphasized gratitude for the time he has.

The statement was deeply rooted in Sasse’s Christian faith. While acknowledging the severity of his diagnosis, Sasse said he plans to pursue treatment and is not surrendering quietly, citing advances in immunotherapy and adding, “I’m not going down without a fight.”

Former state Rep. George Moraitis’ campaign to flip Florida’s 23rd Congressional District red is gaining the backing of two sitting Congressmen from the Sunshine State.

Republican U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis and Scott Franklin are getting behind Moraitis, who hopes to secure the GOP nomination and supplant Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz next year.

In statements provided to the Moraitis campaign, both highlighted shared ties they have with the candidate.

“George and I share an appreciation for the values instilled by our Greek heritage — faith, family, hard work, and service to community and country. George has lived those values throughout his career, from his service in uniform to his commitment to principled, conservative leadership,” Bilirakis said. “Our state needs leaders who show up, do the work, and put principle ahead of politics. George Moraitis is that kind of leader, and I am proud to support his campaign.”

Franklin noted that both he and Moraitis are Navy veterans and U.S. Naval Academy graduates.

“George and I share a deep commitment to service, integrity, and mission over politics. George brings those values to public service, along with a strong dedication to fiscal responsibility, national security, and putting hardworking families first,” he said. “In Congress, George will defend our freedoms, support those who serve, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. George Moraitis is the clear choice for District 23, and I am honored to endorse his campaign.”

Born and raised in CD 23 — which spans a northern, mostly coastal area in Broward and a section of South Palm Beach County — Moraitis graduated from the University of Florida School of Law and practices real estate law in Fort Lauderdale, where he and his wife, former Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Heather Moraitis, raised two daughters.

He served eight in the Florida House, representing many of the same areas he hopes to represent in Washington, D.C.

In October, his campaign grew his war chest to $485,000. He also carries endorsements from U.S. Reps. Greg Steube, Mike Haridopolos and Jake Elzzey, plus a slew of current and former locally elected officials.

Moraitis faces a crowded Republican Primary that includes six other GOP hopefuls, including Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer and counterterrorism expert Joe Kaufman, who lost to Moskowitz by 6 points last year. Moskowitz’s war chest grew by $2.16 million in the 2024 cycle.

The Cook Political Report rates the 2026 CD 23 race as leaning Democratic (D+2). That’s the most competitive of any contest in the state, according to Cook. It could become even more competitive under a potential redistricting plan by Gov. Ron DeSantis — a noted cross-aisle ally of Moskowitz’s — and Republican legislative leaders, which may shift the district further north into Palm Beach.