Nov 3, 2026
Nebraska - United States Senate
⭐ This is one of seven races that will determine control of the Senate! Get caught up ↓
Dan Osborn
Independent - Age: 51
Steamfitter, Navy veteran, and former union president who led the 2021 Kellogg's strike in Omaha. Came within 7 points of a Senate upset in 2024.
Campaign website →
Pete Ricketts
Republican - Age: 61
Two-term governor, former TD Ameritrade executive, U.S. senator since 2023. Seeking his first full term.
Campaign website →
Who's ahead?
CookLIKELY RSabatoLIKELY RDDHQLIKELY R
Ratings: Cook Political Report (Aug 20), Sabato’s Crystal Ball (Aug 26), Decision Desk HQ (Aug 5). Source →
Ricketts
48
Osborn
47
Every public poll of this race has found a statistical tie
As of July 1
Where they stand
Tap a topic that's important to you.
OSBORN SAYS
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RICKETTS SAYS
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Money & campaign finance
Where each candidate stands on campaign-finance questions.
OSBORN
RICKETTS
Yes
Ban Congress from trading stocks
Yes
No
Takes corporate PAC money
Unknown
Sources: Osborn and Ricketts on stock trading (Nebraska Examiner) · Osborn: no corporate PACs (Nebraska Examiner)
Fundraising
RAISEDCASH ON HANDUNDER-$200 DONORS
Dan Osborn
$5.8M$2.4M38% of receipts
Pete Ricketts
$11.2M$6.9M2% of receipts
Campaign committee totals for the 2025–26 cycle, through June 30, 2026. Under-$200 share is unitemized individual contributions divided by total receipts. FEC filings →
Their big promises
OSBORN'S TOP 3
Answer to no party
Won't caucus with either party's leadership; vote issue by issue for Nebraska.
Working-class economics
Raise the minimum wage, protect union rights, cut taxes on overtime pay.
Protect farm-country programs
Defend Social Security, Medicare, and rural hospitals from budget cuts.
RICKETTS'S TOP 3
Back the Trump agenda
Secure the border, extend the 2017 tax cuts, and support the president's program.
Deliver for agriculture
Expand ethanol markets and trade opportunities for Nebraska farmers and ranchers.
Cut taxes & spending
Points to his record as governor: tax cuts and balanced budgets without a state income-tax hike.
Agree or differ?
Gun rights
Osborn is a gun owner who opposes new bans · Ricketts has an A rating from gun-rights groups
Tighter border security
Both call for securing the border · Osborn pairs it with legal-immigration reform for meatpacking and farm labor
Ban congressional stock trading
Osborn: yes, a centerpiece of his campaign · Ricketts: opposes a ban
Raise the federal minimum wage
Osborn: yes · Ricketts: opposes a federal increase
Tariffs on farm-export markets
Osborn: calls them a tax on Nebraska farmers · Ricketts: defends them as leverage for better trade deals
Abortion
Osborn: says government shouldn't make the decision · Ricketts: strongly anti-abortion, signed Nebraska's restrictions as governor
Their stories
DAN OSBORN
1975Born in Omaha; served in the Navy, then became a steamfitter and industrial mechanic.
2021As local union president, led the 77-day strike at the Kellogg's plant in Omaha.
2024Ran for Senate as an independent and came within 7 points of Sen. Deb Fischer — in a state Trump won by 20.
2026Petitioned onto the November ballot with ~12,500 signatures; endorsed by Nebraska Democrats, who ran no candidate of their own.
PETE RICKETTS
1964Born in Nebraska City; rose to COO of the family firm TD Ameritrade; family co-owns the Chicago Cubs.
2014Elected governor with 57% after losing a 2006 Senate bid; re-elected in 2018.
2023Appointed to the Senate when Ben Sasse resigned; won the 2024 special election by 25 points.
2026Won the GOP primary with 82%, seeking his first full six-year term.
The backstory
Positions summarized from campaign websites, voting records, and news reports · July 2026
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