Nebraska Senate Election 2026
Pete Ricketts (R) is running. Rating: Likely R.
Status: upcoming. Election day is November 3, 2026.
Candidates
| Candidate | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Osborn | Independent | Independent; former union local president |
| Pete Ricketts (incumbent) | Republican | Senator since 2023 |
Polls
| Date | Pollster | Dan Osborn | Pete Ricketts |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 3, 2026 | YouGov | 48% | 47% |
| September 30, 2026 | co/efficient (R) | 43% | 48% |
| September 13, 2026 | SurveyUSA (D) | 46% | 42% |
| September 8, 2026 | GBAO (D) | 47% | 46% |
| August 13, 2026 | Impact (D) | 47% | 47% |
| May 11, 2026 | Tavern (D) | 47% | 42% |
| February 5, 2026 | Impact (D) | 48% | 46% |
| December 17, 2025 | Lake (D) | 47% | 48% |
Average of the 3 most recent polls: Dan Osborn 45.7%, Pete Ricketts 45.7%. Polls are snapshots, not predictions.
Where the candidates stand
Dan Osborn (I)
- Says abortion decisions belong to a woman and her doctor; would codify Roe. (2026) source
- Defends the Second Amendment but backs red-flag laws. (2024) source
- Opposes private-school vouchers. (2026) source
- Wants to break up agricultural and health care monopolies. (2026) source
- Opposes the Iran war, citing fertilizer and fuel prices. (2026) source
- Supports the PRO Act and opposes a national right-to-work law. (2026) source
- Would raise the federal minimum wage to $15. (2026) source
- Supports a wealth tax and opposes more tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. (2026) source
- Supports same-sex marriage. (2026) source
- Opposes the expansion of data centers. (2026) source
Pete Ricketts (R)
- Supports a 12-week limit and a constitutional ban; backs restricting mailed abortion pills. (2026) source
- Opposed red-flag laws and sponsored interstate concealed carry. (2025) source
- Praised the 2026 EPA rollback of climate rules and voted to end clean energy credits. (2026) source
- Backed publicly funded private-school scholarships. (2021) source
- Voted against requiring congressional approval for Iran military action. (2026) source
- Sponsored the National Right to Work Act. (2025) source
- Opposed Nebraska's voter-approved minimum wage increase. (2022) source
- Voted to extend the 2017 tax cuts and sponsored estate tax repeal. (2025) source
- Sponsored a ban on transgender students in female sports. (2025) source
Sources
- 2026 United States Senate elections (Wikipedia)
- Latest Senate polls (RealClearPolling)
- 2026 election polls (Political.org)
- Cook Political Report Senate ratings
- The Green Papers: 2026 candidates by state
- Cook Political Report Senate overview: South Carolina, Mississippi, Minnesota (Oct. 20, 2026)
- Midterm Elections in Ohio, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
- Midterm Elections in Michigan, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
Ratings, candidates and polls last updated October 24, 2026. Ratings are expert forecasts, not results.