Who Is Running for Senate in Nebraska
Republican Senator Pete Ricketts faces independent Dan Osborn for Nebraska’s U.S. Senate seat on November 3, 2026. Three minor-party candidates are also on the ballot, and Ballotpedia notes its candidate list may not be complete (Ballotpedia).
Key facts
- Pete Ricketts, Nebraska’s governor from 2015 to 2023, was appointed to the seat in 2023 and won a 2024 special election for the rest of the term.
- The winner of a full six-year term serves from January 3, 2027 to January 3, 2033.
- Dan Osborn lost Nebraska’s other Senate seat to Deb Fischer in 2024, 53.2% to 46.5%.
- The Nebraska Democratic Party endorsed Dan Osborn, who has said he will not caucus with either party if elected.
Candidates on the ballot for U.S. Senate in Nebraska, November 3, 2026
Source: Ballotpedia, United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2026; the list may not be complete
Why No Democrat Is on Nebraska’s Ballot
Cindy Burbank, who won the Democratic primary, filed to withdraw from the general election on July 17, 2026. Ballotpedia quotes her: “I’ve looked at the numbers. I won’t be your next senator.” The Nebraska Democratic Party had already endorsed Dan Osborn, who runs as a nonpartisan candidate (Ballotpedia).
Our midterm elections explainer covers the other Senate races on November 3.
Nebraska Senate Primary Results
Pete Ricketts won the Republican primary on May 12, 2026 with 81.5% of 197,074 votes, and Cindy Burbank won the Democratic primary with 89.5%. Dan Osborn, running without a party, was not in a primary. Both results are certified (Ballotpedia).
- 81.5%
- Pete Ricketts's share of 197,074 Republican primary votes
- 89.5%
- Cindy Burbank's share of 123,073 Democratic primary votes, before she withdrew
Ricketts and Osborn Backgrounds
Pete Ricketts won the 2024 special election for this seat over Preston Love Jr., 62.6% to 37.4%, with 585,103 votes (Ballotpedia). Before the Senate, he was governor for eight years and chief operating officer of the brokerage Ameritrade.
Dan Osborn is an industrial mechanic who led a local of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers union and served in the U.S. Navy and the Nebraska Army National Guard (Ballotpedia).
Nebraska Senate Campaign Money
Through June 30, 2026, Pete Ricketts‘s campaign had raised $11.2 million and had $6.9 million on hand, according to the Federal Election Commission. Through September 30, 2026, Dan Osborn‘s campaign had raised $5.8 million and had $2.4 million on hand (FEC, Ricketts; FEC, Osborn). The two reports cover different periods, and the next quarterly reports are due October 15, 2026.
How to Vote for Senate in Nebraska
Register online or by mail by October 16, 2026, or in person by October 23, 2026. Any voter can vote early: request a mailed ballot by October 23, 2026, and return it before the polls close on Election Day (Neb. Rev. Stat. 32-941; 32-950). Check your registration with the Secretary of State’s voter check.
Nebraska's 2026 Senate election, step by step
- October 5 to November 2, 2026 Early voting Vote early in person at your county election office.
- October 16, 2026 Online and mail registration deadline In-person registration runs until October 23, 2026.
- October 23, 2026 Mailed ballot request deadline Your county must receive the request by the close of business.
- November 3, 2026 Election Day Mailed ballots must arrive before the polls close.
Nebraska Senate Questions
Who is running for U.S. Senate in Nebraska in 2026?
Republican Senator Pete Ricketts and independent Dan Osborn, plus three minor-party candidates. No Democrat is on the ballot.
Who is Dan Osborn?
Dan Osborn is an industrial mechanic and former union local president who served in the U.S. Navy and the Nebraska Army National Guard. Running as an independent, he lost Nebraska’s other Senate seat to Deb Fischer in 2024, 53.2% to 46.5%, and has said he will not caucus with either party.
Why is there no Democrat in the Nebraska Senate race?
Cindy Burbank, who won the Democratic primary, filed to withdraw on July 17, 2026. The Nebraska Democratic Party had endorsed Dan Osborn, who runs as a nonpartisan candidate.
When did Pete Ricketts become a senator?
Pete Ricketts, governor of Nebraska from 2015 to 2023, was appointed to the seat in 2023 and won a 2024 special election for the rest of the term, which ends January 3, 2027.
How much have Ricketts and Osborn raised?
Pete Ricketts had raised $11.2 million through June 30, 2026, and Dan Osborn $5.8 million through September 30, 2026, according to the Federal Election Commission.
What You Can Do
- Check your registration with the Secretary of State’s voter check before October 16, 2026.
- Request a mailed ballot by October 23, 2026, or vote early in person starting October 5.
- Read both campaigns’ filings on the Federal Election Commission’s pages for Ricketts and Osborn.
- Contact your current senators, Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer, about the votes coming up in Congress. Our letter-writing guide shows how.
- Read the rest of your ballot on the Nebraska state page.