LEXINGTON, NE – Republican Pete Ricketts will remain in the U.S. Senate after defeating independent candidate Dan Osborn in Tuesday’s General Election.
With unofficial results reported early Wednesday, Ricketts held about 50 percent of the vote, compared with just under 44 percent for Osborn. The victory gives Ricketts a full six-year term representing Nebraska in the U.S. Senate after first being appointed to the seat in 2023.
In his victory remarks, Ricketts thanked Nebraska voters and pledged to continue working on issues including agriculture, economic growth and national security.
Election officials note the results remain unofficial until the statewide canvass and certification process is completed.
Independent candidate for U.S. Senate Dan Osborn spoke to his supporters late Tuesday night saying, “This campaign started with the truth that working class people deserve a seat at the table in Washington D.C. and the United States Senate. And that change is non-belief. That belief has not stopped. We will continue. We will continue inspiring people throughout the country, And, you know, while we may have not won this election tonight, we must continue to demand better from our government.”
The 2026 race against independent Dan Osborn marks Ricketts’ first election to a full six-year Senate term. His new term will run through January 2033.
