Ricketts, Osborn Clash in Fiery Nebraska Senate Debate

Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., went on the offensive against independent challenger Dan Osborn during a debate Tuesday night at the Nebraska State Fair, repeatedly calling him "Democrat Dan" and tying his campaign to democratic socialists.

The debate is the first of many expected nationwide over the next two months as Democrats and Republicans fight for control of the Senate. Deep-red Nebraska rarely hosts nationally watched Senate races, but Osborn's one-on-one contest with Ricketts could prove closer than typical partisan contests in the state. With nine weeks until Election Day, Tuesday's debate may be the only face-to-face meeting between the two.

Osborn spent much of the debate distancing himself from both parties while avoiding a complete break with either. The Democratic nominee, Cindy Burbank, dropped out of the race this summer, and the state Democratic Party chair said she was backing Osborn instead. Osborn ran for the same seat in 2024, losing to GOP Sen. Deb Fischer by less than 7 percentage points even as Donald Trump carried Nebraska by 20 points.

"I don't need to caucus with either party," Osborn said. "Nobody's got a monopoly on a good idea. I will work with Republicans to get things passed, but it's about delivering for Nebraska."

Ricketts attacked Osborn over his support for "Medicare for All" and argued Osborn would not have backed the tax cuts and other measures in President Trump's tax and spending legislation. Osborn responded that as a true independent, his vote could have served as leverage for Nebraska given the bill passed only by Vice President JD Vance's tiebreaker.

PAC spending and "dark money" from unidentified donors emerged as a major theme. Ricketts noted that Osborn's top fundraising sources were Washington, D.C., New York and California, and that he had received money from prominent Democrats including Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. "The truth is I can't be bought," Ricketts said. "He already has."

Osborn, who repeatedly called dark money a problem needing a fix, acknowledged that outside groups funded by anonymous donors have supported his campaign. "I don't know who these people are, and they raise money in my name," he said, adding that any ad lacking a candidate's personal approval statement reflects dark money at work.

The debate was divided into three segments covering tariffs and the cost of living, immigration enforcement and the war in Iran, and campaign financing and artificial intelligence.