Ben Nelson was born in 1941 in the rural southwestern Nebraska community of McCook. He earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1963, a master's degree in 1965, and a law degree in 1970.

In 1990, Senator Nelson defeated the incumbent Republican to become Nebraska's 37th governor. He completed his second term as governor in 1998, enjoying near record approval ratings.

In November of 2000, Senator Nelson was elected to the U.S. Senate and has made national defense, tax reduction, protecting Social Security and a pro-business approach the cornerstones of his senate agenda. He is a member of many committees representing Armed Services, Commerce, Transportation, and Agriculture. He serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Centrist Coalition and as Co-Chair of the COngressional Sportsman's Causus.

Senator Nelson has gained a reputation of being able to put partisan politics aside and forge compromises between the Bush administration and the Senate on key issues including judicial nominations, tax cuts, Medicare reform, and homeland security.

Senator Nelson's song, Western Town, will be featured in the upcoming movie, "Out of Omaha".

Prior to entering public life, Senator Nelson enjoyed a successful career in insurance law serving as CEO of the Central National Insurance Group, chief of staff and executive vice president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and director of the Nebraska Department of Insurance.

The Senator and his wife, Diane, have four children and three grandchildren.

Nelson enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and hunting and fishing.