2026 United States Senate election in Nebraska
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The 2026 United States Senate election in Nebraska will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Nebraska. Republican incumbent Pete Ricketts is seeking his first full term following a special election in 2024. Former union leader Dan Osborn, who ran in the 2024 regular election, is again running as an independent.
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November 3, 2026
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Primary elections were held on May 12, 2026.[1] Ricketts won the Republican nomination with 81.5% of the vote. Although state Democrats endorsed Osborn, pastor William Forbes entered the Democratic primary amid accusations of being a spoiler candidate. In response, retired pharmacy technician Cindy Burbank launched a primary candidacy supported by the party and defeated Forbes with 89.2% of the vote before dropping out of the general election in July to support Osborn.
Republicans have not lost a Senate election in Nebraska since 2006.[2] The last independent to win a Senate election in Nebraska was progressive George Norris in 1936.[3] This election will be the first in which a state did not have a Democratic candidate in back-to-back US Senate election cycles.[4][5]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Pete Ricketts, incumbent U.S. senator[6]
Eliminated in primary
Endorsements
- Executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[11]
- Organizations
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Pete Ricketts (R) | $4,866,649 | $4,281,083 | $1,072,534 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[15] | |||
Results
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
- 90–100%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Pete Ricketts (incumbent) | 160,547 | 81.5 | |
| Republican | Todd Knobel | 15,921 | 8.1 | |
| Republican | Debb Axtel Schultz | 11,735 | 6.0 | |
| Republican | Mac Stevens | 5,204 | 2.6 | |
| Republican | Eric Mortimore | 3,667 | 1.9 | |
| Total votes | 197,074 | 100.0 | ||
Independent
In the 2024 United States Senate election in Nebraska, union president Dan Osborn ran as an independent against Republican incumbent Deb Fischer, losing by fewer than seven points in one of Nebraska's closest Senate races. Osborn significantly outperformed Democratic nominee Preston Love Jr., who lost the concurrent special Senate election to Pete Ricketts by more than 24 points.[17]
In early 2025, Osborn formed an exploratory committee for a potential 2026 run.[18] In June 2026, he submitted a petition to appear on the general election ballot as an independent,[19] which was verified the following month.[20]
Although Osborn is not affiliated with the Nebraska Democratic Party, the party is supporting his candidacy, citing their greater alignment with his platform.[21]
Candidate
- Declared
- Dan Osborn, former president of BCTGM International Union Local 50G and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024[22]
- Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Dan Osborn (I) | $3,856,314 | $2,784,328 | $1,135,152 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[15] | |||
Democratic primary
Background
Jane Kleeb, the chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, said the party did not intend to recruit a candidate, similar to the Nebraska Senate race in 2024.[23][24] In August 2025, the party endorsed Dan Osborn, an independent candidate.[25]
In March 2026, the party called for Democratic candidate William Forbes to withdraw, with Kleeb accusing him of trying to "trick voters" and opposing abortion access. She urged Democrats to support Osborn instead.[26][27] In an interview with CNN, Forbes acknowledged that he had voted for Donald Trump in multiple elections, but insisted that he was a lifelong Democrat.[28]
After Forbes entered the race retired pharmacy technician Cindy Burbank launched a primary candidacy endorsed by the state party. On March 17, 2026, Secretary of State of Nebraska Bob Evnen removed Burbank from the ballot following a complaint from Nebraska Republican Party that alleged she was not a good-faith candidate.[29] Burbank filed a lawsuit in Lancaster County District Court immediately following the removal.[30] On March 19, 2026, a District Court judge dismissed Burbank's lawsuit.[31] On March 23, 2026, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that Evnen missed a deadline to consider complaints and reinstated Burbank to the ballot.[32]
Burbank stated in April that she would consider leaving the race to "unify the votes" against Ricketts.[33] She said in a phone interview a week before the primary that she intended to withdraw from the general election and would support Osborn if there was "no clear path to victory".[34] She filed to be removed from the ballot on July 17,[35] which was confirmed by Secretary of State Evnen on July 21.[36]
After Burbank's withdrawal, Forbes filed a lawsuit which claimed the Nebraska Democratic Party must have a Senate candidate.[37] An initial ruling by a Lancaster County judge stated that the attempt to force the party to field a candidate was unlikely to succeed and raised "serious constitutional concerns."[38] The case was dismissed on August 26, 2026.[39]
Candidates
Withdrew after nomination
- Cindy Burbank, retired pharmacy technician[40]
Eliminated in primary
- William Forbes, pastor[26]
Endorsements
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Cindy Burbank (D) | $4,296 | $1,872 | $2,423 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[15] | |||
Results
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
- 90–100%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Cindy Burbank | 110,210 | 89.5 | |
| Democratic | William Forbes | 12,863 | 10.5 | |
| Total votes | 123,073 | 100.0 | ||
Third parties
America First Party
America First Party organizers submitted completed petitions to form a new party on July 15, 2026; registered voter signatures required to do so were verified by the Nebraska Secretary of State on August 7, 2026.[42] After a ruling by the Nebraska Supreme Court on August 26, 2026, against the Nebraska Republican Party objections (which claimed the party's name would cause confusion for voters) the secretary confirmed the party's formation.[43] Chuck Conboy, an account manager, is the party's nominee in this race.[44]
Legal Marijuana NOW primary
Prior to the primary, Mark Elworth Jr., the former chair of the Legal Marijuana NOW party, accused Mike Marvin of being a "Dan Osborn plant".[45] In addition, Republicans accused Marvin of planning to drop out and endorse Osborn if he won the nomination. Marvin has denied the allegations.[46] Cindy Burbank, the Democratic nominee, paid for Marvin's $1,740 filing fee when the secretary of state refused to take his own check, which had the incorrect amount.[47][48] Marvin did not submit the paperwork to be removed from the ballot before the August 3 deadline,[49] but withdrew and endorsed Osborn on August 21, citing a health condition. He will remain on the ballot.[50]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Marijuana Now | Mike Marvin | 829 | 66.4 | |
| Legal Marijuana Now | Earl Starkey | 420 | 33.6 | |
| Total votes | 1,249 | 100.0 | ||
Nebraska Working People Party
Nebraska Working People Party organizers submitted completed petitions to form a new party on July 14 and was verified by the Secretary of State on August 7, 2026.[42] After a ruling by the Nebraska Supreme Court on August 26, 2026, that the Nebraska Democratic Party's objection (claiming that the name is too similar to the Working Families Party) had been filed too late, the secretary confirmed the party's formation.[43] Robin Richards, the party's chair, is the party's nominee in this race.[51]
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[52] | Likely R | September 23, 2026 |
| Decision Desk HQ[53] | Likely R | October 2, 2026 |
| The Economist[54][b] | Lean R | October 3, 2026 |
| FiftyPlusOne[55] | Likely R | October 3, 2026 |
| Fox News[56] | Likely R | September 22, 2026 |
| Inside Elections[57] | Lean R | October 1, 2026 |
| RealClearPolitics[58] | Tossup | September 24, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[59] | Likely R | September 22, 2026 |
| Silver Bulletin[60] | Likely R | October 3, 2026 |
| Split Ticket[61] | Lean R | October 2, 2026 |
Endorsements
- U.S. senators
- Organizations
- Executive branch officials
- Robert Reich, former secretary of labor (1993–1997) (Democratic)[67]
- Party officials
- Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party (2016–present) (Democratic)[68]
- Individuals
- Mike Marvin, former labor union official and former candidate for this seat (Legal Marijuana NOW)[69]
- Political parties
- Labor unions
- American Federation of Government Employees[72]
- Association of Flight Attendants[73]
- Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM)[74]
- Nebraska State Education Association[75]
- National Education Association[76]
- Nebraska AFL-CIO[66]
- United Auto Workers[77]
- Organizations
Debates
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Independent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn |
||||||
| Pete Ricketts | Dan Osborn | |||||
| 1 | September 1, 2026[84] | News Channel Nebraska Nebraska State Fair |
Dave Griek | YouTube | P | P |
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Pete Ricketts (R) | $11,233,507 | $4,809,506 | $6,910,970 |
| Dan Osborn (I) | $5,751,951 | $3,393,630 | $2,421,487 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[85] | |||
Polling
- Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Pete Ricketts (R) |
Dan Osborn (I) |
Other/ Undecided[c] |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 270toWin[86] | September 8–30, 2026 | October 2, 2026 | 46.3% | 44.7% | 9.0% | Ricketts +1.6% |
| FiftyPlusOne[87] | through September 30, 2026 | October 4, 2026 | 46.1% | 45.2% | 8.7% | Ricketts +0.9% |
| Silver Bulletin[60] | through September 30, 2026 | October 4, 2026 | 46.3% | 45.7% | 8.0% | Ricketts +0.6% |
| Average | 46.2% | 45.2% | 8.6% | Ricketts +1.0% | ||
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[d] |
Margin of error |
Pete Ricketts (R) |
Dan Osborn (I) |
Other | Undecided | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| co/efficient (R)[88] | September 28–30, 2026 | 1,113 (LV) | ± 2.92% | 48% | 43% | — | 8% | ||||||||
| 45% | 40% | 4%[e] | 11% | ||||||||||||
| Wedgewood Polls[89] | September 14–16, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 52% | 48% | — | — | ||||||||
| SurveyUSA[90][A] | September 8–13, 2026 | 503 (LV) | ± 6.4% | 42% | 46% | 4%[f] | 7% | ||||||||
| GBAO (D)[91][B] | September 3–8, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 46% | 47% | — | 7% | ||||||||
| Impact Research (D)[92][C] | August 9–13, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 47% | 47% | — | 5% | ||||||||
| GBAO (D)[91][B] | July 2026 | — | — | 47% | 47% | — | 5% | ||||||||
| Primary elections | |||||||||||||||
| Tavern Research (D)[93] | May 8–11, 2026 | 1,165 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 42% | 47% | — | 12% | ||||||||
| GBAO (D)[91][B] | April 2026 | — | — | 45% | 46% | — | 7% | ||||||||
| Impact Research (D)[94][C] | February 2–5, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 48% | 47% | — | 5% | ||||||||
| Lake Research Partners (D)[95] | December 11–17, 2025 | 900 (LV) | — | 48% | 47% | — | 5% | ||||||||
| Lake Research Partners (D)[96] | July 23–29, 2025 | 900 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 46% | 47% | — | 7% | ||||||||
| Change Research (D)[97][D] | March 28 – April 1, 2025 | 524 (LV) | ± 4.6% | 46% | 45% | — | 9% | ||||||||
Pete Ricketts vs. Cindy Burbank
Pete Ricketts vs. William Forbes
Pete Ricketts vs. generic Democrat
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Pete Ricketts (incumbent) | ||||
| Independent | Dan Osborn | ||||
| Legal Marijuana NOW | Mike Marvin (withdrawn) | ||||
| America First | Chuck Conboy | ||||
| Working People | Robin Richards | ||||
| Total votes | |||||
Notes
- Endorsement only applicable for the primary election.
- The Economist's prediction model uses unconventional terminology. For the purpose of equivalency, their "Very Likely" ratings are formatted as a "Likely" rating while "Likely" ratings are formatted as a "Lean" rating.
- Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - Mike Marvin (LMN) with 2%; Robin Richards (WPP) with 1%; Chuck Conboy (AF) with 1%
- "Another candidate" with 4%
Partisan clients