Independent Dan Osborn launches new US Senate bid to challenge Nebraska Republican Pete Ricketts

A former labor union boss who drew national headlines in his race last year as an independent candidate challenging Nebraska Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer is again throwing his hat into the political ring — this time to challenge Nebraska's junior senator, Republican Pete Ricketts, in 2026. “I’m running for Senate because Congress shouldn’t just be a playground for the rich,” Dan Osborn said in a video released Tuesday to announce his candidacy.