Osborn ran in the regular 2024 United States Senate election in Nebraska. He drew attention for his unorthodox, populist platform and his unusually high-level support as a moderate independent candidate in what is usually a strongly Republican state. Some polls showed him in a dead heat with incumbent Deb Fischer, but she won by 7 points. Osborn's performance was the best ever for an independent candidate in a Nebraska US Senate race.
Dan Osborn was born on March 29, 1975. His mother was a seamstress, and his father, Gary, worked for Union Pacific Railroad, loading cargo; after retiring, he also served as a Republican Dodge County Commissioner.
When Osborn was seven, his family moved to Omaha after his father was transferred with Union Pacific. After an accident, Osborn's father was moved to the railroad company's management side and transferred out of state. Osborn stayed in Omaha to finish high school and lived on his own starting at age 16, paying rent with odd jobs. He graduated from Roncalli Catholic High School in 1994.
Both Senate seats in Nebraska were up for reelection in 2024, one in a special election and the other in a regular election. Osborn ran as an independent in the regular election against Deb Fischer, who had no Democratic challenger. Osborn said he could represent working- and middle-class constituencies better than wealthy, establishment politicians.
Osborn officially announced his candidacy as an independent candidate on October 5, 2023. By March 2024, he had collected 4,000 signatures from Nebraska voters, enough to be eligible for the November ballot. In August he submitted more than 12,000, guaranteeing his place on the ballot.
Osborn has been registered as nonpartisan since registering to vote in 2004. Although Democrats chose not to run a candidate in the Senate election, Osborn declined their endorsement. The state Democratic Party considered running a write-in candidate, accusing Osborn of misleading them about his intentions, but Osborn said he had always been clear that he would not accept endorsements from any political party. Osborn wanted to form an independent caucus in the Senate rather than caucus with either party. He called the current system a "two-party doom loop". The Reform Party of the United States endorsed him in September 2024. Senate Democrats did not engage with or help Osborn's campaign.
Osborn raised more campaign funds, mostly small-dollar donations, than any independent candidate in Nebraska's history. The last independent to win a Senate seat in Nebraska was progressive George Norris in 1936.
Asked about his prospects in the race by The New York Times, Osborn said: "I've gone up against a major American corporation. I stood up for what I thought was right, and I won." Of the major candidates in the 2024 United States presidential election he said (before Joe Biden withdrew): "I think they're both too old. I think they're both incompetent. There's a good chance I won't vote for president." He later said he intended to vote for one of the two major-party candidates.
The race between Osborn and Fischer, for what is usually a safe Republican Senate seat, was unusually competitive for Nebraska, and potentially important in determining partisan control of the Senate. In an August 2024 SurveyUSA poll sponsored by Split Ticket, Fischer held a narrow lead of 39% to 38% over Osborn, within the margin of error, while 23% of voters were undecided. The poll led the Nebraska Examiner to call the election a tight race. The Cook Political Report's Senate and governor's editor said: "This is probably the most surprising race of the cycle. [Osborn] is such a different type of politician. He's a blue-collar worker—a mechanic. I think Fischer is a lower-profile senator who isn't as well known." Various polls showed both of them leading and the race extremely tight. An October 28 New York Times/Siena College poll showed Osborn two points behind Fischer, well within the margin of error. Fischer won the election, 53% to 47%.
Split Ticket, a data-driven political analysis and forecasting site, wrote that Osborn's performance was the strongest relative to the partisan nature of Senate elections. Politico reported that the Democrats, after their losses in the 2024 elections, were studying Osborn's unusually competitive campaign, especially in a deep red state, as they rebuild their party and its image.
2026
On July 8, 2025, Osborn announced he would run as an independent in the 2026 United States Senate election for the Class II seat held by Republican Pete Ricketts. According to his team, Osborn raised about $2 million in 2025 for his campaign. The Nebraska Democratic Party (NDP), acknowledging that an NDP nominee would have little chance in the general election, chose to clear the field for Osborn. On June 11, 2026, Osborn submitted around 12,500 signatures to Nebraska's Secretary of State, allowing him to appear on the general election ballot as an independent.
The national Democratic Party is not supporting Osborn's candidacy, but the Nebraska Democratic Party has endorsed it. Osborn is unaffiliated, but the state party views his candidacy as an opportunity to develop coalitions, disrupt the status quo, and promote a candidate more aligned with its platform. In March 2026, the Reform Party USA endorsed Osborn.
After launching his 2026 campaign, Osborn said he would "welcome donations from anyone, whether you're a Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, America Party", and said his primary goal if elected is to get big money out of American politics. Of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and voters, he said: "They were sold a bill of goods that if you work hard in this country, your government is going to be there to have a level playing field for you to get ahead. But now we're seeing tax cuts for the billionaires at the expense of workers, people that are struggling to get by."
It has been argued that Osborn is part of a trend in which candidates draw on dissatisfaction with the major parties by eschewing the Democrat or Republican label in the 2026 elections. Osborn's run for the Senate to unseat Ricketts has been called a "rugged guy" campaign, referring to his being a man who works with his hands and an appeal to working people who reject both parties.
A New York Times article suggested that Osborn may fare better among Hispanics in the state who are disappointed in the immigration policy of the second Trump administration and its effects on the Latino community. Newsweek wrote that while the political climate is more favorable to Osborn, the fact that there are significantly more registered Republicans in Nebraska (than all other parties and unaffliated voters combined) makes his an uphill battle.
Osborn said he will not caucus with either of the two major parties if elected, and has said: "I'm going to caucus with everybody." Brian Bengs, the independent Senate candidate from South Dakota, said he will caucus with Osborn and form an independent caucus.
In September, Nebraska Values PAC, which supports Osborn, ran an ad about a convicted rapist Ricketts voted to pardon while governor, calling Ricketts out of touch with Nebraskans.
Economic inequality, particularly income disparity, have been highlighted in Osborn's campaign. In advertisements and social media, he has characterised Ricketts as a spoiled rich kid whose Senate seat was bought by father, the founder of Ameritrade. Osborn said: “The system’s working exactly like it’s designed to work — for them.” and “Nebraska has to make this decision and tell the rest of the country we’re not for sale.”
Political positions
Osborn's political positions have been described as populist, with an emphasis on protecting small businesses, family farmers, and workers. He has expressed support for capitalism and what he described as a "true free market", while opposing monopolies.
Economic and labor policy
Osborn has supported raising the federal minimum wage, lowering tax rates for small businesses and overtime work, and facilitating union organizing. He has also supported the right to repair consumer goods, including automobiles and electronics. He has advocated increasing the income cap subject to Social Security payroll taxes and returning the full retirement age for Social Security benefits to 65.
Trade
Osborn has supported policies intended to protect workers and industries from what he considers unfair trade practices. He has criticized free trade agreements that he argues have contributed to the outsourcing of American jobs and supported measures to encourage domestic manufacturing. Osborn has also called for trade policies that prioritize American workers and small businesses while maintaining access to international markets.
Osborn has supported ensuring adequate resources for law enforcement officers and first responders. He has also supported measures intended to improve railroad safety, having been a labor organizer in the railroad industry.
Veterans
Osborn is a veteran of the United States Navy and the Nebraska Army National Guard. He has advocated increased funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and policies intended to improve access to health care and benefits for veterans. During his 2024 campaign, he called for fully funding the VA to address claims backlogs and supported comprehensive job placement and job-training programs for veterans.
During his 2026 campaign, Osborn supported the Major Richard Star Act, which would eliminate the offset between military retirement pay and VA disability compensation for certain medically retired veterans. He has also opposed privatization of the VA, arguing that veterans should receive health care through a strengthened VA system rather than increased reliance on private providers.
During the 2026 campaign, Osborn said that his campaign was primarily supported by individual donors and stated that he did not coordinate directly with outside groups making independent expenditures on his behalf. Federal Election Commission records show that his authorized committees reported approximately $5.75 million in receipts through June 30, 2026, including approximately $5.54 million in individual contributions.
Housing
Osborn has supported policies intended to increase the supply of affordable housing and increasing opportunities for working- and middle-class families to purchase homes. He has argued that housing costs are affected by availability and supported efforts to reduce barriers to housing construction. His housing-related positions have included support for expanding the supply of affordable homes and for measures intended to assist renters and homeowners facing rising housing costs. His broader economic platform has emphasized reducing costs for working families and increasing economic security, which he has linked to the ability to afford housing. Osborn has emphasized increasing housing supply rather than relying solely on government subsidies. He has expressed support for policies that encourage construction of additional housing, including affordable and workforce housing, while seeking to reduce regulatory barriers that can increase the cost of development.
LGBTQ rights
Osborn has supported legal recognition of same-sex marriage and has stated that he opposes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. During the 2024 Senate campaign, he said that people's private lives were "no business but their own" and expressed support for protecting same-sex marriage.
Osborn has generally described his approach to social issues as emphasizing individual freedom and limited government involvement in private life. His stated position on LGBTQ rights has been reported as supporting protections for same-sex couples and opposing discrimination.
Osborn has described himself as personally pro-life, while supporting legal access to abortion under the framework established by Roe v. Wade and opposing a federal abortion ban. He has said that he supports a woman's ability to make decisions about her own body while opposing late-term abortion. Osborn has characterized his position on abortion and other socially divisive issues as a "libertarian approach", arguing that the government should have a limited role in citizens' private lives.
Osborn has supported providing Israel with funding for what he described as "defensive purpose only".
In 2026, Osborn criticized the US–Israeli war on Iran, questioning the rationale for the military operation. He said, "This is crazy and I just don't think we need to keep getting into forever wars."
Personal life
Osborn lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with his wife, Megan; they have three children. He is Catholic.
↑Svitek, Patrick (October 4, 2024). "In Nebraska, independent Senate candidate gives GOP a competitive race". The Washington Post. Osborn gained national prominence after he led the 2021 strike as president of the local Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union.
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