Nebraska Senate race mud-throwing will continue to the bitter end, but do voters care?

Watchers of the Nebraska Senate debate at the state fair saw a microcosm of the yearlong campaign between Sen. Pete Ricketts and Dan Osborn.

By: Juan Salinas II

Outlets: Nebraska Examiner

Published: September 10, 2026

Words: 2,186

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 3 days ago

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GRAND ISLAND — It only took about a minute into the Nebraska State Fair Senate debate for the name-calling to start.

Incumbent Nebraska Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts called nonpartisan candidate Dan Osborn “Democrat Dan” 40 times throughout the hourlong event, leading Osborn to joke that there should be a “third podium” for him as he tried to pitch himself as being a working-class populist above party lines.

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