Ricketts Defeats Osborn in Nebraska Senate Race
Ricketts, a former Nebraska governor who entered the Senate in 2023 after Ben Sasse resigned, won a full term by defeating Osborn, a Navy veteran, pipe fitter and former union organizer. Ricketts had previously won a special election for the remainder of Sasse’s term. His victory keeps Nebraska’s Senate seat with Republicans; the party has held both of the state’s Senate seats since 2012.
Osborn ran without a major-party nomination after the Democratic candidate ended her campaign in July. He said he would not caucus with either party, though Nebraska Democrats backed him. Ricketts’ campaign sought to cast Osborn as a Democrat and argued that his election could help Democrats control the Senate.
The contest was more competitive than expected, given Trump’s 20-point margin in Nebraska in 2024. Osborn emphasized the pressure of rising costs on families and workers, and criticized Ricketts over his wealth and ties to donors and corporations. Ricketts highlighted his record as governor and campaigned on border security and lower taxes.
Costs were a prominent issue, including high diesel prices that affected farmers. Osborn supported Trump’s expansion of access to red-dye diesel for farm and other off-road equipment, but called the measure a temporary fix. Ricketts’ win preserves the seat for Republicans as the party seeks to retain its Senate majority.
Nebraska Voters Reject Cost-Focused Challenge to Ricketts
Ricketts’ victory keeps Nebraska’s Senate seat in Republican hands, even as the race drew attention to the strain that high prices have placed on families and workers. Osborn, a former Navy serviceman and onetime labor-union organizer, campaigned on what he heard from Nebraskans about expensive groceries, health care and other costs.
The contest was closer than expected in a state Trump carried by 20 points in 2024. Osborn also pointed to high diesel prices affecting farmers and supported Trump’s move to expand access to red-dye diesel, while describing it as only a short-term remedy. The race put economic worries front and center, but Ricketts prevailed.
Ricketts’ campaign focused on border security, tax cuts and his record as Nebraska governor. It also sought to portray Osborn as a Democrat, although Osborn said he would not caucus with either party. Nebraska Democrats backed Osborn after their nominee left the race in July.
Ricketts first joined the Senate in 2023 after Ben Sasse resigned and later won a special election for the rest of Sasse’s term. His victory maintains Republican control of both Nebraska Senate seats, which the party has held since 2012, as Republicans work to keep their Senate majority.
Ricketts Holds Nebraska Senate Seat Against Independent Bid
Nebraska voters kept Republican Pete Ricketts in the Senate, rejecting an independent challenge backed by the state Democratic Party. Osborn said he would not caucus with either party, but Ricketts’ campaign warned that electing him could benefit Democrats and argued that his politics were too extreme for Nebraska.
The result preserves Republican control of both of Nebraska’s Senate seats, held by the party since 2012, as the GOP seeks to maintain its Senate majority. Ricketts campaigned on stronger border security and lower taxes, as well as his record as a former governor who had been elected to statewide office three times.
Osborn emphasized rising expenses, including fuel and grocery costs, and attacked Ricketts over his wealth and connections to donors and corporations. He also backed Trump’s expansion of access to red-dye diesel for farm and other off-road equipment, though he called it a temporary fix. Those economic concerns made the race more competitive than expected in a state Trump won by 20 points in 2024.
Ricketts entered the Senate in 2023 after Ben Sasse resigned, then won a special election for the remainder of Sasse’s term. His victory now gives him a full term and leaves the seat in Republican hands.
Reported by NBC News, WXYZ Detroit, New York Post, CBS News, The Washington Examiner, Daily Kos, The Blaze.
