(Picture credit Matt Johnson)
OMAHA — The race between Pete Ricketts and Dan Osborn is shaping up to be the most expensive U.S. Senate race in Nebraska history—with more than $25 million raised by both campaigns in this cycle, in addition to more than $50 million in outside PAC spending supporting both candidates.
By contrast, Preston Love Jr., Ricketts’ 2024 opponent in the special election, spent less than $300,000 on his own campaign. Sen. Deb Fischer, however, was outspent nearly two-to-one by Osborn in 2024. In this cycle, Ricketts was not going to be caught off guard, spending money early and often against Osborn.
Fox News moved the race slightly in Osborn’s favor, from Likely Republican to Lean Republican in just the past few days, and current polls show a tight race, with Ricketts leading by a slim margin of 1–3%.
Osborn vs. the ‘Epstein Class’
Both candidates have been crisscrossing the Cornhusker State as they campaign right up until Election Day. Osborn has completed his “93-county tour” of Nebraska and appeared at Barry’s Bar and Grill in Lincoln on Sunday evening.
Osborn has framed his campaign as a fight between the working class and the “billionaire Epstein class,” making the release of the Epstein files his top priority if elected to the U.S. Senate.
“The wealthy elites, a who’s who of the Epstein clients, crypto and AI super PACs and groups like AIPAC have spent tens of millions of dollars on ads lying to you about me,” Osborn said. “They want you to believe that the devil you know is your only choice. I don’t think we should be voting for the devil at all.”
Osborn also compared his campaign against Ricketts to one against the “robber barons” of the 19th century, including the Vanderbilts, Carnegies, and JP Morgans of the era.
The list may also include President Trump, who campaigned with Ricketts in Grand Island last month and referred to Osborn as a “sleazebag.” And while Osborn highlighted the money spent against him, he cited grassroots campaigning as the winning factor in his campaign.
“Change is here, change is now, and we’re going to do it,” Osborn said. “The thing that’s most effective is not a crappy AI jingle or $50 million in negative ads calling names. It’s a referral from a family member, from a friend, and from a neighbor. And so that’s how grassroots campaigns win, and that’s why we’re going to win in two days.”
Ricketts and Republican Turnout
Ricketts, in turn, has been holding a series of events across the state along with State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg and Attorney General Mike Hilgers, with stops in Broken Bow, Sidney, Ogallala, McCook, and Kearney over the past few days.
The Ricketts campaign has focused on Osborn as a “fake” independent, referring to him as “Democrat Dan” and tying the broader Democratic Party to the insurgent Democratic Socialist candidates who have been winning primary elections this year.
“They’re trying to fool the voters, not just here, but around the country, by trying to use our positions and say they’re moderates,” Ricketts told the press at a campaign event in Elkhorn on Sunday. “But once they get to Washington, D.C., they have a very radical agenda. That’s part of our message, to let people know they can’t be fooled by these folks.”
The Ricketts campaign has also highlighted leaked audio clips in which Osborn used vulgar language, including his comments about “Billy Bob” and “Mary Jane” in Red Cloud, and a crude slur he used to refer to Senator Deb Fischer.
“We have an opportunity to make sure that we do not allow this embarrassment to get into office,” Ricketts said. “We’ve got to get people out to vote.”
For his own record, Ricketts highlighted the Working Families Tax Cuts passed last year, which included no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and making the paid family and medical leave tax credit permanent.
In the end, however, everything comes down to turnout.
“What I know is that you’ve got to go out and earn it each and every time,” Ricketts said. “That’s why we’re doing these stops all around the state, to make sure Republicans get out and vote. That’s how we win this election. If we get Republicans out to vote, I am confident we’re gonna win.”
— Matt Johnson is a freelance reporter with The Plains Sentinel.