Photo: getty
They met on a Christian mission.
By Samantha Maffucci — Written on Oct 12, 2018
Before becoming involved in politics, Ben Sasse worked in a consulting firm for multiple companies. He then served as a chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Policy and was a part-time assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Afterward, he served as an advisor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a counselor to the secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and was assistant secretary for planning and evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
But in 2014, he was elected as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska, as a member of the Republican party, and won with 65 percent of the vote against his opponent. Since then, he’s made it clear that he supports only conservative values, including being against same-sex marriage, abortion, and affordable health care.
It’s hard to imagine that a family wouldn’t support their father and husband, but it seems he hit the jackpot with his wife. But just who is Ben Sasse’s wife? Here are 6 things to know about Melissa Sasse.
1. They met in college.
The couple were introduced when both attended a Christian mission trip while in college. They bonded over their faith.
2. They homeschool their children.
Because Sasse is constantly moving around the country, he and Melissa homeschool their three kids, Alexandra, Brec, and Elizabeth, in Fremont, Nebraska.
3. They give their children hands-on lessons.
According to Sasse, the couple sends their children to farms and ranches all over Nebraska to instill important life lessons.
“We want them to get dirt under their fingernails and we want them to have to get up at 4:30 AM when they don't want to. I think we are doing a bad job of helping our kids understand that they have huge resiliency. Persevering and getting through hardship makes you tough, and at our house we celebrate stitches. As long as we didn’t do permanent damage to their spine that’s going to have lasting effect, we applaud and celebrate stitches at our house.”
4. They rent out one of their homes.
At the end of 2017, the Sasse family purchased a Victorian home on Capitol Hill for almost $1 million. But since their primary residence is in Nebraska, they plan to rent it out when the family isn’t accompanying Sasse while he’s in D.C.
“This property will be a rental property for much of the year. As has been their practice since Ben took office in 2015, Melissa and their three kids have been spending weekdays with Dad in D.C. for a few months each winter. In future winters, they will be moving in and out of this part-time rental property, rather than Airbnb-hopping, as they’ve done the past few winters. Their primary residence remains Nebraska,” Sasse’s spokesperson said.
5. She had an aneurysm.
For many Senators, the fight to give all Americans a right to affordable health care has long-since been a debate. And even though Melissa suffered an aneurysm 11 years ago, it just isn’t a political issue for them.
When Sasse was working for President Bush, Melissa recalls that she had headaches all day, and was in the middle of an aneurysm. Doctors weren’t sure if she was going to survive but according to tests done a few months later, she had gone through three years of recovery in just six months and fully recovered.
Though the Sasse family found themselves arguing over a $160,000 bill with two insurance companies, they say that Obamacare did nothing for them and that families should be in control of their own coverage.
6. They belong to the United Reformed Churches in North America.
Photo: Getty
This church embraces the “reformed faith” and is a theologically conservative religion. They are members of Grace Church, a Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) congregation.
Samantha Maffucci is an associate editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.