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2026 United States Senate election in Nebraska

Updated: Wikipedia source

2026 United States Senate election in Nebraska

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. Former union leader Dan Osborn, who was a candidate in 2024 Senate contest, is again running as an independent. The Democratic nominee is former pharmacy technician Cindy Burbank. Primary elections were held on May 12, 2026. Ricketts won the Republican nomination with 81 % of the vote. Osborn received the endorsement of state Democrats, which not field a candidate. Nonetheless, Pastor William Forbes entered the Democratic primary amid accusations of him running as a spoiler candidate in the general election. In response, Burbank launched a primary candidacy, was later endorsed by the state party, and defeated Forbes with 89 % of the vote; she has pledged to drop out of the general election to support Osborn.

Infobox

Nominee
Pete Ricketts
Party
Republican

Tables

· Republican primary › Fundraising
Candidate
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Raised
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Spent
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Cash on hand
Pete Ricketts (R)
Pete Ricketts (R)
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Pete Ricketts (R)
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
$4,866,649
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
$4,281,083
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
$1,072,534
Source: Federal Election Commission
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Pete Ricketts (R)
$4,866,649
$4,281,083
$1,072,534
Source: Federal Election Commission
Republican primary results · Republican primary › Results
Total votes
Total votes
Party
Total votes
Party
196,403
Candidate
100
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Pete Ricketts (incumbent)
160,019
81
Republican
Todd Knobel
15,869
8
Republican
Debb Axtel Schultz
11,683
5
Republican
Mac Stevens
5,182
2
Republican
Eric Mortimore
3,650
1
Total votes
196,403
100
· Democratic primary › Fundraising
Candidate
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Raised
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Spent
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Cash on hand
Cindy Burbank (D)
Cindy Burbank (D)
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Cindy Burbank (D)
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
$4,296
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
$1,872
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
$2,423
Source: Federal Election Commission
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Cindy Burbank (D)
$4,296
$1,872
$2,423
Source: Federal Election Commission
Democratic primary results · Democratic primary › Results
Total votes
Total votes
Party
Total votes
Party
121,880
Candidate
100
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Cindy Burbank
109,129
89
Democratic
William Forbes
12,751
10
Total votes
121,880
100
· Independent › Fundraising
Candidate
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Raised
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Spent
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Cash on hand
Dan Osborn (I)
Dan Osborn (I)
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Dan Osborn (I)
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
$3,856,314
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
$2,784,328
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
$1,135,152
Source: Federal Election Commission
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Dan Osborn (I)
$3,856,314
$2,784,328
$1,135,152
Source: Federal Election Commission

References

  1. Endorsement only applicable for the primary election.
  2. Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
  3. Poll sponsored by Osborn's campaign
  4. Poll commissioned by Osborn's exploratory campaign
  5. "2026 Election Calendar"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20260505151000/https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2026/2026_Election_Calendar.pdf
  6. Nebraska Public Media
    https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/es/news/news-articles/senate-candidate-dan-osborn-hits-campaign-trail-with-populist-blue-collar-message/
  7. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/29/dan-osborn-nebraska-senate-elections
  8. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/12/nebraska-senate-ricketts-sasse-replacement/
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/12/nebraska-senate-ricketts-sasse-replacement/
  9. "Nebraska U . Senate Special Election Results"
    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/results-nebraska-us-senate-special.html
  10. The Hill
    https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3805689-former-nebraska-gov-pete-ricketts-tapped-to-fill-sasses-senate-seat/
  11. Norfolk Daily News
    https://norfolkdailynews.com/news/candidates-continue-filing-for-office-as-incumbent-deadline-looms/article_b78ad227-4dee-4730-96a8-92088cb2f4ef.html
  12. "2026 Elections"
    https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections
  13. "Debb Schultz files for U . Senate after leaving mayoral race"
    https://central.newschannelnebraska.com/story/203561709/debb-schultz-files-for-us-senate-after-leaving-mayoral-race
  14. "As filing period ends, Nebraska Republican incumbents Ricketts, Pillen face combined 9 opponents"
    https://www.kwit.org/podcast/spm-news/2026-03-04/as-filing-period-ends-nebraska-republican-incumbents-ricketts-pillen-face-combined-9-opponents
  15. Nebraska Examiner
    https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/trump-throws-weight-into-hypothetical-midterm-race-with-endorsement-of-u-s-sen-pete-ricketts/
  16. "- AIPAC Political Portal"
    https://candidates.aipacpac.org/page/featured
  17. "2026 Endorsed Candidates"
    https://www.clubforgrowth.org/elections/pac-endorsed-candidates/
  18. "Nebraska Farm Bureau endorses Ricketts for U . Senate"
    https://www.norfolkneradio.com/news/nebraska-farm-bureau-endorses-ricketts-for-u-s-senate/article_75d9ee78-b6e7-4269-a9bf-5ba9b6c83332.html
  19. "2026 Election United States Senate - Nebraska"
    https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/senate/NE/2026/
  20. "Unofficial Results: Primary Election – May 12, 2026"
    https://electionresults.nebraska.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=SW&map=CTY
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