Dan Osborn is mounting a second independent bid for U.S. Senate in Nebraska, this time challenging Republican Senator Pete Ricketts. Osborn set a state record last year for the most votes ever secured by an independent Senate candidate in Nebraska, earning more than 417,000 votes.
In a post on X Tuesday morning, Osborn announced that he is formally entering the 2026 election cycle. He first launched an exploratory committee in April to consider a second campaign and began accepting donations through ActBlue at that time. Federal Election Commission records confirm that Osborn is running as an independent. They also show the formation of a committee titled “Conservatives for Osborn” around that same time, although the group has yet to report any financial activity.
“Ok. You’ve all convinced me. I’m in,” Osborn wrote in his announcement, calling the race a reflection of a “foundational battle taking place in America right now.” He further described it as a contest between “The Billionaire Class vs. The Working Class.”
Osborn first ran for Senate as an independent in 2024, challenging incumbent Republican Deb Fischer. While he ultimately lost, he received 46.14% of the vote in a two-way race, totaling 417,801 votes, which set a record for an independent candidate in the state. The previous record-holder was George Norris, a longtime Republican incumbent who sought reelection as an independent in 1936. Norris won in a three-way contest but with fewer votes and a lower percentage than Osborn’s 2024 result.
During his previous campaign, Osborn consistently positioned himself as an independent, though he also engaged with several parties earlier in the cycle. He ultimately declined all formal endorsements, citing a desire to remain unaffiliated with any organization or special interest group. This included declining support from the Nebraska Democratic Party, which later failed to field a candidate, and reportedly from the Libertarian Party as well.
Despite initially turning down endorsements, Osborn still later received support from the national Reform Party and the Legal Marijuana NOW! Party of Nebraska, whose candidate withdrew from the race to back his campaign.
Thanks to reader Joshua Fauver for sharing news of Osborn’s announcement.
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