 In 2007, Bruning entered the race for the U.S. Senate seat then held by Chuck Hagel, and raised more than $1 million for his campaign.Later that year, however, Hagel announced that he would not seek reelection; soon thereafter, former Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns joined the race for the now-open seat.Faced with an overwhelming likelihood that Johanns would win the Republican primary, Bruning withdrew from the campaign almost a year before the election.