POLITICS

Nebraska primaries set stage for November Senate matchup

PUBLISHED May 13, 2026, 12:39 AM ET

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Omaha — Tuesday night, Nebraska Democratic nominee Cindy Burbank won the party primary, while Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts easily secured the GOP nomination. Local outlets and the Associated Press called races shortly after polls closed, and vote tallies published that evening showed Burbank leading decisively in the Democratic contest. This week Burbank said she would likely withdraw from the general election to consolidate support behind independent Dan Osborn, and the Nebraska Democratic Party publicized its preference for an Osborn challenge to Ricketts. Campaign statements and vote totals reported Tuesday night set up planning for a potential one-on-one November contest and further ballot-certification steps.

By Daniel Hayes | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Prior to the primary, Dan Osborn campaigned as an independent and sought ballot access.
Tuesday evening: Nebraska primaries were held; polls closed and results reported shortly after 8 p.m.
AP and local outlets called Pete Ricketts the GOP primary winner shortly after polls closed.
Tuesday night: Cindy Burbank won the Democratic primary and stated she would likely withdraw from the general election.
Following results, the Nebraska Democratic Party communicated support for consolidating behind Osborn ahead of November.

News Intelligence

The Nebraska primaries shape your November ballot. If you're a Nebraska voter, your choices may narrow down to Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts and independent Dan Osborn. Keep an eye on official announcements for any changes.

Media Bias

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Left Leaning:: 1
Neutral:: 2

Who Benefited

Independent candidate Dan Osborn and the Nebraska Democratic Party benefited from the Democratic primary outcome that cleared a path for a one-on-one general election contest against Republican incumbent Pete Ricketts, aligning party strategy to consolidate anti-Ricketts votes.

Who Impacted

William Forbes, who lost the Democratic primary amid allegations of being a 'plant', suffered a decisive defeat, and Republican incumbent Pete Ricketts faces a potentially consolidated opposition that could make the November contest more competitive.

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