2026 United States Senate election in Nebraska

For related races, see 2026 United States Senate elections.
Not to be confused with 2026 Nebraska Legislature election.

2026 United States Senate election in Nebraska
November 3, 2026
 
Nominee TBD Dan Osborn
Party Republican Independent
Incumbent U.S. senator

Pete Ricketts
Republican



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. Primary elections will be held on May 12, 2026. Nebraska has been represented in the U.S. Senate exclusively by Republicans since 2013.

Incumbent Republican Senator Pete Ricketts was appointed to the seat in 2023 after the resignation of Ben Sasse. He won the 2024 special election to serve out the remaining two years of Sasse's term and is seeking a full term. Democrats have indicated they will not field a candidate in the race. Dan Osborn, an independent, who ran in the Class I Senate race in 2024, announced his candidacy in July 2025.

Republican primary

The statewide primary election day will occur on May 12, 2026.[1]

Candidates

Declared

  • Pete Ricketts, incumbent U.S. senator[2]
  • Todd Knobel, entrepreneur[3]
  • Eric Mortimore[4]
  • Debb Axtell Schultz[5]
  • Mac Stevens, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024[6]

Endorsements

Pete Ricketts
Executive branch officials
Organizations

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Pete Ricketts (R) $3,597,203 $3,562,993 $557,128
Source: Federal Election Commission[11]

Democratic primary

Jane Kleeb, the chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, had stated that the party does not intend to recruit a candidate in this race, similar to their actions taken in 2024.[12] In August 2025, the Nebraska Democratic Party endorsed Osborn.[13]

In March 2026, the Nebraska Democratic Party publicly called for William Forbes, a Democratic candidate, to withdraw from the race.[14] Kleeb alleged that Forbes was running to "trick voters", accusing him of wanting to "ban all access to abortion", and urged Democrats to support Osborn's campaign.[14][15]

Candidates

Declared

  • William Forbes, pastor[14]

Disqualified

Independents

Candidates

Declared

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Dan Osborn (I) $2,121,436 $1,608,939 $575,663
Source: Federal Election Commission[11]

Third-party candidates

Declared

  • Mike Marvin, former labor union official[19]
  • Earl Starkey, marijuana advocate[20]

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Inside Elections[21] Solid R August 12, 2025
The Cook Political Report[22] Solid R October 14, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[23] Likely R August 12, 2025
Race To The WH[24] Lean R February 21, 2026

Endorsements

Dan Osborn (I)
Executive branch officials
Party officials
Political parties
Labor unions
Organizations

Polling

Pete Ricketts vs. Dan Osborn

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Pete
Ricketts (R) 		Dan
Osborn (I) 		Undecided
Impact Research (D)[35][A] February 2–5, 2026 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 48% 47% 5%
Lake Research Partners (D)[36] December 11–17, 2025 900 (LV) – 48% 47% 5%
Lake Research Partners (D)[37] July 23–29, 2025 900 (LV) ± 3.3% 46% 47% 7%
Change Research (D)[38][B] March 28 – April 1, 2025 524 (LV) ± 4.6% 46% 45% 9%

Notes

  1. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Partisan clients

  1. ^ Poll sponsored by Osborn's campaign
  2. ^ Poll commissioned by Osborn's exploratory campaign

References

  1. ^ "2026 Election Calendar" (PDF). sos.nebraska.gov.
  2. ^ Weaver, Al (January 12, 2023). "Former Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts tapped to fill Sasse's Senate seat". The Hill. Retrieved January 12, 2023. Pillen also noted that Ricketts has committed to running in 2024 and 2026
  3. ^ Svehla, Austin (February 9, 2026). "Candidates continue filing for office as incumbent deadline looms". Norfolk Daily News. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  4. ^ "2026 Elections". Nebraska Secretary of State. January 5, 2026.
  5. ^ Rice, Peter (March 6, 2026). "Debb Schultz files for U.S. Senate after leaving mayoral race". News Channel Nebraska. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  6. ^ Hayworth, Bret (March 4, 2026). "As filing period ends, Nebraska Republican incumbents Ricketts, Pillen face combined 9 opponents". Siouxland Public Media. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  7. ^ Salinas, Juan (April 10, 2025). "Nebraska's Dan Osborn statistically tied with U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts in poll". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  8. ^ "- AIPAC Political Portal". candidates.aipacpac.org. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  9. ^ "2026 Endorsed Candidates". Club for Growth. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  10. ^ "Nebraska Farm Bureau endorses Ricketts for U.S. Senate". Norfolk NE Radio. March 19, 2026. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  11. ^ a b "2026 Election United States Senate - Nebraska". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  12. ^ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (July 9, 2025). "Morning Digest: Nebraska independent who spooked GOP launches another Senate bid". The Downballot. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  13. ^ Coblerobler, Ariana Joy (August 1, 2025). "Dan Osborn endorsed by NE Democratic Party for 2026 Senate race". NTV. Retrieved November 16, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ a b c "A slew of indie candidates are running for Senate in deep-red states. Democrats aren't all thrilled". POLITICO. March 9, 2026. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  15. ^ Kleeb, Jane (March 3, 2026). "NDP Press Release - Statement on U.S. Senate Candidate William Forbes". Nebraska Democratic Party. Archived from the original on March 18, 2026. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  16. ^ Salinas II, Juan (March 3, 2026). "Nebraska U.S. Senate race filled with alleged 'plants,' campaigns say". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  17. ^ II, Juan Salinas (March 17, 2026). "Evnen removes Nebraska Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Burbank from ballot • Nebraska Examiner". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  18. ^ Vakil, Caroline (July 8, 2025). "Dan Osborn launches independent Senate bid against Ricketts in Nebraska". The Hill. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  19. ^ Evans, Jordan Willow (March 3, 2026). "Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party to Hold Contested U.S. Senate Primary". Independent Political Report. Archived from the original on March 7, 2026. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  20. ^ Ourada, Jackie (January 20, 2026). "Nebraska marijuana advocate announces U.S. Senate bid". Nebraska Public Media. Archived from the original on March 8, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  21. ^ "Senate Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  22. ^ "2026 CPR Senate Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  23. ^ "2026 Senate ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  24. ^ "2026 Senate Forecast". Race to the WH. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  25. ^ Reich, Robert (September 11, 2025). "Democrats should forget about appealing to some mythical center". The Boston Globe. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  26. ^ Salinas, Juan (July 31, 2025). "Nebraska Dems chair 'supporting' Dan Osborn vs. U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts". States Newsroom. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  27. ^ Coblerobler, Ariana Joy (August 1, 2025). "Dan Osborn endorsed by Nebraska Democratic Party for 2026 Senate race". KHGI. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  28. ^ "Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Nebraska's Dan Osborn for Election to the U.S. Senate". www.afge.org. American Federation of Government Employees. December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  29. ^ "Dan Osborn picks up endorsement of Nebraska's largest teachers union • Nebraska Examiner". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  30. ^ "Our Recommended Candidates". Education Votes. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  31. ^ Mayhugh, Justin (February 6, 2026). "UAW Endorses Independent Dan Osborn in Nebraska U.S. Senate Race". UAW – United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  32. ^ "End Citizens United Endorses Dan Osborn for Senate". endcitizensunited.org. March 4, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  33. ^ "Candidates". Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs.
  34. ^ "Meet Our Pro-Peace Candidates". Peace Action. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  35. ^ "Polling Shows Virtual Tie Between Independent Dan Osborn and Pete Ricketts". Impact Research. February 18, 2026. Retrieved February 20, 2026 – via Osborn for Senate.
  36. ^ "December 2025 Nebraska Topline Poll". Lake Research Partners. January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 23, 2026 – via Google Docs.
  37. ^ Weigel, David [@daveweigel] (September 16, 2025). "#NESen poll by Lake Research (D) from late summer, shared w me: Osborn (I): 47% Ricketts (R): 46% Osborn w higher favs; sample is 58-40 Trump-Harris, a little bluer than 2024. Right after announcing, before any real R messaging (July 23 – 29, 900 LVs, 3.3% MOE)" (Tweet). Retrieved September 15, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  38. ^ Wegley, Andrew (April 10, 2025). "First poll in potential Nebraska Senate race shows Osborn down 1% to Ricketts". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
Official campaign websites
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