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President Donald Trump endorsed Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts and his reelection campaign to the U.S. Senate, writing that he will “ALWAYS put Nebraska, and America, FIRST.”
In a post to Truth Social, President Trump wrote on Saturday that the incumbent Republican is “doing a terrific job for the people of Nebraska,” including championing farmers, stopping illegal immigration, cutting taxes, supporting the military, and protecting the Second Amendment.
He further criticized Ricketts’ presumptive opponent, Independent Dan Osborn, a left-leaning former candidate who was narrowly defeated by Sen. Deb Fischer in 2024, despite the state’s strong Republican lean.
“Pete is one of the strongest Senators in the Country on Border Security, whereas his potential Opponent, Dan Osborn, is a Radical Left Open Border Extremist, who will put our Country, and Safety, LAST,” said the president. “Pete, on the other hand, will ALWAYS put Nebraska, and America, FIRST.”
Ricketts, who previously served two terms as Nebraska’s governor, was appointed by Republican Gov. Jim Pillen to serve in the upper chamber after former Sen. Ben Sasse resigned in 2023.
In 2024, he was elected by a wide margin to serve out Sasse’s remaining two years, and will now run for a full term to the Senate in 2026.
However, with Osborn hinting towards another run, Nebraska could become closer than expected. According to Osborn’s exploratory committee, the former candidate is currently one point behind Ricketts in the state.
One Change Research poll cited by Osborn found that Ricketts had 46 percent support to the Independent’s 45 percent.
Moreover, Democrats chose not to run a candidate in Nebraska’s 2024 Senate race, and instead hoped that Osborn, who was perceived as a more moderate, electable choice, would defeat Fischer.
If this were again the case, it is possible Osborn’s candidacy could make the race closer than otherwise anticipated.
Ultimately, Osborn still lost by roughly six points, despite his internal polls putting him ahead by six against Sen. Fischer.
Comparatively, Jessica Flanagain, a Ricketts adviser, accused Osborn of using “fake polling” to garner “media attention,” particularly during his race against Fischer, according to the Nebraska Examiner.
Osborn’s poor polling track record, combined with the president’s endorsement of Ricketts, is going to make flipping this seat from Republican hands increasingly difficult.