Nebraska's 2026 Senate primary determines the candidates who will face Pete Ricketts (R) in the November general election — but the real story is Dan Osborn's independent campaign, which won't appear on the May 12 primary ballot. PoliVion scores every declared primary candidate on the same formula: policy clarity, donor independence, and governance fit. Not party affiliation or polling position.
Pete Ricketts was appointed to the Senate in January 2023 after Ben Sasse resigned to become University of Florida president, then won the 2024 special election by 25 points over Preston Love Jr. He's now running for his first full six-year term. Nebraska is R+25 at the presidential level, but Dan Osborn — the independent union mechanic who held Sen. Deb Fischer to a 6-point win in 2024 — has announced a second Senate campaign. Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it Likely Republican, upgraded from Safe Republican. An Osborn internal poll in April 2025 showed Ricketts leading 46-45 — a statistical tie.
The Democratic primary features two candidates: Cindy Burbank and William Forbes. The Nebraska Democratic Party has publicly called for Forbes to withdraw, alleging he is a "plant" designed to confuse voters. Neither candidate has the infrastructure, fundraising, or platform of a serious Senate contender — this primary is a formality. The real Democratic-aligned general election challenger is Dan Osborn (Independent), who will petition onto the November ballot separately.
On the Republican side, Ricketts faces four minor challengers with no significant resources. He has $5.8M raised and is the overwhelming primary favorite.
Cindy Burbank — Democratic candidate · PoliVion Score: 52%
William Forbes — Democratic candidate · PoliVion Score: 29% ⚠ Dem Party called for withdrawal
Note: Dan Osborn (Independent) runs in the general election — not this primary.
Pete Ricketts — U.S. Senator (2023–present) · PoliVion Score: 70% ✅ Recommended
+ 4 minor Republican challengers · No significant resources documented
Party: Republican | Raised (2025): $5.8M | Polling: 46% (Osborn internal Apr 2025)
Major Policies: Anti-China legislation (Senate Foreign Relations Committee), healthcare competition package, agricultural trade policy, full Trump immigration alignment. Former two-term Nebraska governor (2015–2023). Voted for Big Beautiful Bill (+$3.8T debt) — tension with fiscal hawk rhetoric.
Donor profile: AIPAC documented as a donor. ~$5.8M raised in 2025 with broad Republican individual donor base. No extreme integrity concerns but foreign-interest PAC presence noted.
Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb publicly called on William Forbes to withdraw from the Democratic primary in March 2026, alleging he is running to "trick voters" who might confuse him with Dan Osborn's independent campaign. Forbes has not substantively responded. PoliVion scores Forbes at 29% — reflecting complete absence of platform documentation, no fundraising infrastructure, and the credibility concern his "plant" status creates. Democratic primary voters should be aware of this controversy before casting a ballot.
Dan Osborn, the independent union mechanic who nearly defeated Sen. Deb Fischer in 2024 (holding her to 53%-47%), has announced a second Senate campaign against Ricketts. He will petition onto the November general election ballot as an independent and does not appear in the May 12 primary. Osborn's campaign frames the race as "the billionaire vs. the mechanic." An April 2025 Osborn internal poll showed Ricketts 46%-Osborn 45%. Sabato's Crystal Ball moved Nebraska from Safe Republican to Likely Republican on the strength of Osborn's candidacy.
Pete Ricketts (R) has a documented AIPAC relationship. TrackAIPAC lists AIPAC as a donor to Ricketts. Democratic primary candidates Burbank and Forbes have zero documented lobby exposure. Dan Osborn (Independent, general only) is not listed on TrackAIPAC and has framed his campaign explicitly against corporate and billionaire money.
| Candidate | Status | Lobby Total | PAC Organizations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pete Ricketts (R incumbent) | ⚠ Documented | Documented — TrackAIPAC listed | AIPAC (documented per TrackAIPAC) | AIPAC listed as donor. Relevant given Ricketts' seat on Senate Foreign Relations Committee. |
| Cindy Burbank (D) | ✓ $0 — Not Listed | $0 | — | Not listed on TrackAIPAC. |
| William Forbes (D) | ✓ $0 — Not Listed | $0 | — | Not listed on TrackAIPAC. |
| Dan Osborn (Independent, general) | ✓ $0 — Not Listed | $0 | — | Not listed. Has explicitly campaigned against billionaire and corporate donor influence. |
Proxy PACs & New Popup Organizations:
No popup or proxy PACs identified for this race in current reporting. (No popup PACs identified for NE Senate 2026.)
Official Statements & Documented Positions:
Sources: TrackAIPAC.com (data via FEC & OpenSecrets) · Checked March 22, 2026. Lobby Total = career total from all pro-Israel PACs and their donors. PACs = direct contributions. IE = independent expenditure ad spend. Lobby Donors = individuals who make large contributions to pro-Israel PACs.
PoliVion scores every candidate on the same formula using only publicly available evidence — FEC filings, voting records, campaign websites, and published policy documents. Scores reflect transparency and governance capacity, not ideology, party preference, or polling position.
Nebraska's 2026 U.S. Senate primary takes place May 12, 2026 and determines the candidates who will face appointed incumbent Pete Ricketts (R) in the November general election.
Pete Ricketts was appointed to the Senate in January 2023 after Ben Sasse resigned to become University of Florida president. He then won the 2024 special election by 25 points and is the overwhelming primary favorite with $5.8M raised.
Two Democrats are running: Cindy Burbank and William Forbes. The Nebraska Democratic Party has publicly called for Forbes to withdraw from the race.
No. Dan Osborn is running as an independent candidate in the general election only — he does not appear on the May 12 primary ballot.