Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts defeats independent Dan Osborn in Nebraska Senate race

Sen. Pete Ricketts, a Republican, has won Nebraska's Senate race against independent challenger Dan Osborn, according to a projection from NBC News, securing a full term in a contest that proved more competitive than many anticipated.

Osborn, a pipe fitter and Navy veteran who previously worked as a union organizer, was among several independent candidates who sought Senate seats this year in states that typically vote Republican. His path was cleared in July when the Democratic nominee ended her campaign, leaving him in a direct head-to-head matchup with Ricketts.

Throughout the campaign, Osborn insisted he would not caucus with either party if elected, even though he received the endorsement of the Nebraska Democratic Party. That backing became a central line of attack, with Republicans portraying him as a covert Democrat.

"Democrat Dan is too extreme, and he would be the most extreme senator we've ever sent to the U.S. Senate from Nebraska," Ricketts said during a September debate. "And if he were in charge of the Senate and gave it to the Democrats, that would be a disaster for Nebraska."

The intensity of the attacks reflected how tight the race had become in a state President Donald Trump carried by 20 points in 2024. That same year, Ricketts won a special election by 25 percentage points to serve the final two years of former GOP Sen. Ben Sasse's term. Osborn, meanwhile, had lost his first Senate bid two years ago to Republican Sen. Deb Fischer by only 7 points.

Ricketts' campaign for a full term grew competitive as Trump's approval ratings declined, with voters expressing frustration over elevated costs and the war with Iran. High diesel prices tied to the conflict, combined with Trump's sweeping tariffs, squeezed farmers across heartland states, Nebraska included.

At a rally in Nebraska in early October, Trump signed an executive order expanding access to the diesel used in farming, commonly called "red dye" diesel. "Prices are all going down. Prices are all going way down, but they really are going to plummet as soon as that war ends. It's going to be very soon," Trump told the crowd. "And today, I'm announcing another unprecedented step to bring down costs for many years. Farm vehicles, construction equipment and other off-road vehicles have used what is known as 'red dye' diesel."

Trump added: "Do you know what that is? I don't know what the hell it is, but whatever it is, it's supposed to be very good." Osborn welcomed the measure but dismissed it as a "Band-Aid," and he frequently highlighted the financial strain on Nebraskans while rarely criticizing Trump by name in a state where the president retains many supporters.

"I've gone around the state, and I've talked to thousands of Nebraskans and hardworking people: teachers, truck drivers, nurses, lunch ladies, you name it," Osborn said at the debate. "I've talked to them, and people are working hard. But there's a common theme that I find around the state, and times are getting harder. Costs are getting too expensive. Healthcare is getting too expensive. Groceries are too expensive, and families are falling behind."

Osborn also pressed an anti-corruption message, taking aim at Ricketts' personal wealth and claiming he was beholden to wealthy donors and corporations. "People like us are tired of people in rooms like this calling the shots," Osborn said in a television ad depicting men in a smoke-filled room. "But Pocket Pete, he's right at home." Ricketts countered by reminding voters they had elected him to statewide office three times, airing an ad about his tenure as governor in which voters said: "Through fires and flooding, the ups and downs in agriculture, a global pandemic and every other challenge, Pete Ricketts has been there for Nebraska."