5 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
5 candidates · ballot order · Pete Ricketts currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Agricultural strength and expanded trade opportunities for Nebraska farmers.
Fiscal responsibility.
Border security and immigration enforcement.
Support for Israel; he has criticised the United Nations and UNESCO for what he calls anti-Israel bias.
The America First agenda.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Senator from Nebraska since January 2023, by appointment; won the 2024 special election for the remainder of the term.
Governor of Nebraska, 2015–2023.
Serves on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Missed 31 of 1,570 roll call votes from February 2023 to August 2026, a 2.0% rate, better than the Senate median.
Won the May 12 2026 Republican primary with 81.5%, about 160,547 votes.
Contributed $5.2 million of his own money to a $6.3 million campaign fundraising total.
Has received early advertising support from a group tied to Senate Republican leadership.
Arguments in favor
Eight years as governor plus three in the Senate give him an executive and legislative record focused on Nebraska agriculture, trade and fiscal restraint.
— Sen. Pete Ricketts's Senate office and campaign
His opponent 'is bought and paid for by his liberal, out-of-state, coastal donors' and 'will side with Chuck Schumer over Nebraska families and vote with Democrats to open the border, hike taxes, and stop the America First agenda.'
— A spokesman for the Ricketts campaign
He took over 81% of his own primary vote and has one of the better attendance records in the Senate.
— GovTrack.us voting records and Nebraska Public Media primary reporting
Arguments against
He put $5.25 million of his own fortune into his campaign: 'Ricketts believes spending is free speech; he believes his voice is louder because he can write a bigger check.'
— Dan Osborn, his independent opponent
His personal wealth and corporate interests, not Nebraskans, control his campaign.
— Dan Osborn, his independent opponent
Nebraskans have been abandoned by their elected officials in favour of the corporations and special interests funding their campaigns.
— Dan Osborn, his independent opponent
What we couldn’t verify
His position on tariffs and their effect on Nebraska agriculture.
His position on Medicaid and rural hospital funding.
Working-class populism focused on the cost of living, which he says is the number one issue voters raise.
Union organising and labour rights.
Reducing the influence of corporations and special interests over elected officials.
Independence from both parties — 'Congress shouldn't just be a playground for the rich.'
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Former president of BCTGM International Union Local 50G.
Led an 11-week strike of Nebraska Kellogg's workers in 2021, after the company sought concessions while posting record pandemic profits.
Industrial mechanic; served in the U.S. Navy and the Nebraska Army National Guard.
Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024, losing to Deb Fischer by under seven points without a Democrat in the race.
Launched a PAC after 2024 before entering this race.
Out-raised the incumbent in the first quarter of 2026; the incumbent out-raised him in the following quarter.
Endorsed by the Nebraska Democratic Party despite running as an independent; the Democratic primary winner withdrew in July to support him.
Arguments in favor
He led an 11-week strike against a company demanding concessions while posting record profits — a record of standing up for working people rather than talking about them.
— Dan Osborn for Senate campaign, and Nebraska Examiner reporting
Nebraskans have been abandoned by elected officials for the corporations and special interests funding their campaigns, and 'Congress shouldn't just be a playground for the rich.'
— Dan Osborn
He came within seven points of beating an incumbent senator in 2024 as an independent, and out-raised the incumbent in the first quarter of this campaign.
— Nebraska Examiner reporting on fundraising and the 2024 result
Arguments against
He is 'bought and paid for by his liberal, out-of-state, coastal donors' and will 'side with Chuck Schumer over Nebraska families and vote with Democrats to open the border, hike taxes, and stop the America First agenda.'
— A spokesman for the Pete Ricketts campaign
His independence is nominal: the Nebraska Democratic Party endorsed him, national Democrats deliberately cleared the field for him, and the actual Democratic nominee withdrew to back him.
— Ricketts campaign framing, and Nebraska Examiner reporting on the Democratic Party's strategy
He has already run this race once and lost, and has never held elected office.
— Ricketts campaign framing, as reported by NBC News
What we couldn’t verify
Which party he would caucus with, which determines what his election would mean for Senate control; this is the single most consequential unknown about his candidacy and no definitive commitment could be located.
His positions on abortion and immigration in detail.
His current fundraising totals relative to the incumbent's, which have swapped leads between quarters.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
There is no Democrat on the November ballot in Nebraska. Cindy Burbank won the May 12 2026 Democratic primary with about 89% over pastor William Forbes, then withdrew from the general election in July to support independent Dan Osborn. National Democrats did not field a candidate in 2024 either, and have again cleared the field for Osborn. Republican incumbent Pete Ricketts won his primary with 81.5% over Todd Knobel.
Roster established from the Nebraska Examiner, Nebraska Public Media, NBC News, WOWT and Ballotpedia, cross-checked. Ricketts is seeking his first full term: he was appointed to this seat by Gov. Jim Pillen in January 2023 after Ben Sasse resigned, and won the 2024 special election. (Some secondary summaries wrongly state Ricketts appointed himself; his term as governor had ended a week before the appointment and Pillen made it.)
Three minor-party candidates are also on the ballot and coverage describes the race as 'tangled in ballot drama': Mike Marvin of the Legal Marijuana NOW party, who reportedly did not submit withdrawal paperwork before the deadline; Chuck Conboy of the newly formed America First Party, verified for the ballot on August 7 2026; and Robin Richards of the Nebraska Working People Party. Very little is known about any of them.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Nebraska ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.