Accused Osborn ‘Plant’ Candidate Stays in Senate Race
by John Gage
(Picture credit Matt Johnson)
Mike Marvin, the Legal Marijuana Now U.S. Senate nominee, is staying on the ballot this fall. The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office told The Plains Sentinel on Tuesday that Marvin had not dropped his bid, ending speculation from some political observers that he would end his run and try to clear the field for Osborn.
Candidates had until August 3 to withdraw or decline their candidacy.
Marvin had been accused by Republicans of being a “plant” candidate for Independent U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn. Osborn denies the accusation.
Marvin says his top goal is to “beat Pete Ricketts” and has promised that he will “work with other candidates in the race to make sure we have a united front against Pete Ricketts in November.”
‘Plant’ Candidates & Parties
The “plant” accusations against Marvin extend in part from his connection to progressive activist and lawyer John Cartier. Cartier was paid $500 for legal fees from the Osborn campaign following the 2024 election campaign.
At the same time, Cartier was also the treasurer for the 2024 Kerry Eddy campaign, who was the Marijuana Now U.S. Senate nominee. Eddy dropped out so her name would not appear on the general election ballot and endorsed Osborn.
Cartier is now the treasurer for Marvin’s campaign, but has also filed to form a new “America First Party,” which many political observers expect will be used to “plant” another candidate in the U.S. Senate race.
“Nebraskans are sick of political corruption. They are hungry for more options,” Cartier told The Plains Sentinel about his new party effort. Cartier filed to create a new party after a similar effort was started by failed legislative candidate and registered Democrat Robin Richards, who filed to form a “Nebraska Working People Party.”
Democrats have accused Richards’ party of being a “plant” by incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts.
Legal Circus Has Begun
The formation of two new parties, as well as accusations of “plant” candidates, has caused speculation that the election season could turn into a legal “circus.”
Last month, former Democratic primary candidate William Forbes sued the Nebraska Democratic Party to try to force the party to field a nominee in the U.S. Senate race. Forbes had run against Cindy Burbank, who won the nomination, and dropped out of the race last month.
Forbes, in his lawsuit, accused Burbank of “hijacking of Nebraska’s elections” and disenfranchising Democratic voters. Burbank had run in the primary with the express intent to drop out to try and unify the effort against Ricketts.
— John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.