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.
Primary elections were held on May 12, 2026. 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. The last independent to win a Senate election in Nebraska was progressive George Norris in 1936. This election will be the first in which a state did not have a Democratic candidate in back-to-back US Senate election cycles.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Pete Ricketts, incumbent U.S. senator
Eliminated in primary Todd Knobel, entrepreneur Eric Mortimore Debb Axtell Schultz Mac Stevens, realtor and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handPete Ricketts (R)$4,866,649$4,281,083$1,072,534Source: Federal Election Commission
Results
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.
In early 2025, Osborn formed an exploratory committee for a potential 2026 run. In June 2026, he submitted a petition to appear on the general election ballot as an independent, which was verified the following month.
Although Osborn is not affiliated with the Nebraska Democratic Party, the party is supporting his candidacy, citing their greater alignment with his platform.
Candidate Declared Dan Osborn, former president of BCTGM International Union Local 50G and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handDan Osborn (I)$3,856,314$2,784,328$1,135,152Source: Federal Election Commission
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. In August 2025, the party endorsed Dan Osborn, an independent candidate.
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. 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.
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. Burbank filed a lawsuit in Lancaster County District Court immediately following the removal. On March 19, 2026, a District Court judge dismissed Burbank's lawsuit. On March 23, 2026, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that Evnen missed a deadline to consider complaints and reinstated Burbank to the ballot.
Burbank stated in April that she would consider leaving the race to "unify the votes" against Ricketts. 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". She filed to be removed from the ballot on July 17, which was confirmed by Secretary of State Evnen on July 21.
After Burbank's withdrawal, Forbes filed a lawsuit which claimed the Nebraska Democratic Party must have a Senate candidate. 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." The case was dismissed on August 26, 2026.https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/forbes-v-nebraska-democratic-party-defendant-order-summary-judgment.pdf
Candidates Withdrew after nomination Cindy Burbank, retired pharmacy technician
Eliminated in primary William Forbes, pastor
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handCindy Burbank (D)$4,296$1,872$2,423Source: Federal Election Commission
Results
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. 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. Chuck Conboy, an account manager, is the party's nominee in this race.
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". In addition, Republicans accused Marvin of planning to drop out and endorse Osborn if he won the nomination. Marvin has denied the allegations. 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. Marvin did not submit the paperwork to be removed from the ballot before the August 3 deadline, but withdrew and endorsed Osborn on August 21, citing a health condition. He will remain on the ballot.
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. 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. Robin Richards, the party's chair, is the party's nominee in this race.
General election
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportOctober 6, 2026Decision Desk HQOctober 2, 2026The EconomistOctober 3, 2026FiftyPlusOneOctober 3, 2026Fox NewsSeptember 22, 2026Inside ElectionsOctober 1, 2026RealClearPoliticsSeptember 24, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallOctober 6, 2026Silver BulletinOctober 3, 2026Split TicketOctober 2, 2026
Endorsements
Debates + 2026 United States Senate election in Nebraska debates Date Host Moderator Link Republican IndependentKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Pete Ricketts Dan Osborn1 September 1, 2026 News Channel NebraskaNebraska State Fair Dave Griek YouTube
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handPete Ricketts (R)$11,233,507$4,809,506$6,910,970Dan Osborn (I)$5,751,951$3,393,630$2,421,487Source: Federal Election Commission
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregation Datesadministered Datesupdated PeteRicketts (R) DanOsborn (I)Other/Undecided Margin270toWinSeptember 8–30, 2026October 2, 202646.3%44.7%9.0%Ricketts +1.6%FiftyPlusOnethrough October 3, 2026October 6, 202646.3%45.9%7.8%Ricketts +0.4%Silver Bulletinthrough September 30, 2026October 4, 202646.3%45.7%8.0%Ricketts +0.6%Average46.3%45.5%8.2%Ricketts +0.8%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error PeteRicketts (R) DanOsborn (I) Other UndecidedYouGovSeptember 24 – October 3, 20261,809 (LV)±3.3%47%48%3%co/efficient (R)September 28–30, 20261,113 (LV)±2.92%48%43%8%45%40%4%11%Wedgewood PollsSeptember 14–16, 2026500 (LV)±4.4%52%48%SurveyUSASeptember 8–13, 2026503 (LV)±6.4%42%46%4%7%GBAO (D)September 3–8, 2026800 (LV)±3.5%46%47%7%Impact Research (D)August 9–13, 2026600 (LV)±4.0%47%47%5%GBAO (D)July 202647%47%5% May 12, 2026 Primary electionsTavern Research (D)May 8–11, 20261,165 (LV)±3.5%42%47%12%GBAO (D)April 202645%46%7%Impact Research (D)February 2–5, 2026600 (LV)±4.0%48%47%5%Lake Research Partners (D)December 11–17, 2025900 (LV)48%47%5%Lake Research Partners (D)July 23–29, 2025900 (LV)±3.3%46%47%7%Change Research (D)March 28 – April 1, 2025524 (LV)±4.6%46%45%9%
Pete Ricketts vs. Cindy Burbank Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error PeteRicketts (R) CindyBurbank (D) UndecidedTavern Research (D)May 8–11, 20261,165 (LV)±3.5%48%39%13%
Pete Ricketts vs. William Forbes Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error PeteRicketts (R) WilliamForbes (D) UndecidedTavern Research (D)May 8–11, 20261,165 (LV)±3.5%50%34%16%
Pete Ricketts vs. generic Democrat Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error PeteRicketts (R) GenericDemocrat UndecidedTavern Research (D)May 8–11, 20261,165 (LV)±3.5%49%42%9%
Results
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites Chuck Conboy (AF) Mike Marvin (LMN) Dan Osborn (I) Robin Richards (NWP) Pete Ricketts (R)