GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts has defeated independent Dan Osborn in Nebraska, NBC News projects, in a major win for Republicans as they defend their Senate majority.
\n\nOsborn, a pipe fitter, was one of multiple independent Senate candidates running this year in traditionally Republican states. Osborn had the added advantage of a one-on-one race against Ricketts after the Democratic nominee ended her campaign in July.
\n\nBut Osborn faced an onslaught of attacks accusing him of being a secret Democrat. Osborn had stressed that he would not caucus with either party if elected, but he did have the backing of the Nebraska Democratic Party in the race.
\n\n“Democrat Dan is too extreme, and he would be the most extreme senator we’ve ever sent to the U.S. Senate from Nebraska,” Ricketts said during a September debate. “And if he were in charge of the Senate and gave it to the Democrats, that would be a disaster for Nebraska.”
\n\nThe sharp attacks underscored the tougher-than-expected nature of the race in a state Donald Trump won by 20 points in 2024. That same year, Ricketts won a special election to serve the final two years of former GOP Sen. Ben Sasse’s term by 25 points.
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health