Kelly began his legal career in the Lancaster County Attorney's office from 1981 to 1985. He then served as an associate with Berniger, Berg and Diverin Colorado Springs, Colorado, from 1987 to 1990.[1][2] He later returned to the Lancaster County Attorney's office as the deputy Lancaster County attorney. He was elected Lancaster County Attorney in 2010 and again in 2014. He has prosecuted a variety of crimes including homicide, robbery, sexual assault, and white collar.
In 2018, he was appointed to be the U.S. Attorney for Nebraska by President Donald Trump. On February 15, 2018, his nomination to be a U.S. attorney was confirmed by voice vote in the U.S. Senate. He was sworn in on February 23, 2018. On February 8, 2021, he along with 55 other Trump-era attorneys were asked to resign.[3] He resigned on February 28, 2021.[4]
Following his time at a U.S. attorney, he served as Criminal Bureau Chief for the Nebraska Attorney General until Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen announced Kelly as his running mate in 2022.[5] He was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of the State of Nebraska on January 5, 2023.
Italics indicate next-in-line of succession for states and territories without a directly elected lieutenant governor or whose lieutenant governor office is vacant:
