Pete Ricketts Wins Nebraska Senate Seat Over Dan Osborn

Republican Senator Pete Ricketts won a full six-year term in Nebraska's U.S. Senate race on November 3, 2026, securing 50.11% of the vote. He defeated independent candidate Dan Osborn, who received 43.95%. Ricketts had been appointed to the seat in January 2023 by Governor Jim Pillen following the resignation of Ben Sasse.

In the final days of the campaign, Ricketts focused on Republican turnout and the passage of the farm bill, while Osborn held a rally in La Vista and criticized the $60 million spent on attack ads against him. Ricketts and his allies, including Donald Trump, characterized Osborn as a "fake independent" who would caucus with Democrats. Osborn, a union leader, countered by labeling Ricketts "Private Equity Pete" and arguing the senator was detached from the economic struggles of Nebraskans.

The election was part of a broader Republican success in the state, as Governor Jim Pillen also retained his office with 50.14% of the vote, defeating Democrat Lynne Walz. The races were shaped by local concerns over agriculture and property taxes, as well as national debates on reproductive rights and foreign policy.