Republican Senator Pete Ricketts enters the 2026 election cycle as the favorite in deeply red Nebraska, but Dan Osborn is giving him a run for his money and could become the first independent elected to the U.S. Senate from the state in 90 years. Polling shows a tight contest, and while Ricketts is leading, Osborn is raising more money. And a chaotic Democratic primary—marked by allegations of “planted” candidates—may ultimately shape whether Osborn can consolidate anti‑Ricketts voters in