Primary
Democratic Primary
Held May 12, 2026.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cindy Burbank ✓ | 110,210 | 89.5% | |
| William Forbes | 12,863 | 10.5% |
Republican Primary
Held May 12, 2026.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pete Ricketts ✓ | 160,547 | 81.5% | |
| Todd Knobel | 15,921 | 8.1% | |
| Debb Axtel Schultz | 11,735 | 6.0% | |
| Mac Stevens | 5,204 | 2.6% | |
| Eric Mortimore | 3,667 | 1.9% |
Legal Marijuana Now Primary
Held May 12, 2026.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Marvin ✓ | 829 | 66.4% | |
| Earl Starkey | 420 | 33.6% |
Full calendar and every race: Nebraska primary guide
Race Overview
General Election Polling Trend
Showing the published average. The rating above uses this figure.
The right edge is that same average of the last three polls. This is an average, not a forecast.
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Candidates
Pete Ricketts Nominee Incumbent
RepublicanCindy Burbank Nominee
ODeclined the nomination by the July 21, 2026 deadline. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen: Cindy Burbank's name will not appear on the November ballot as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. May 12 primary results stay as history.
General Election Polling Average
Average is the unweighted mean of the last three scientific public polls. Fewer than three uses the polls that exist. The rating uses that average when the newest poll ended in the last 30 days. The table lists the polls in that average, plus the most recent 30 days or the newest 3 polls, whichever is more. How accurate is each pollster? →
| Pollster | Date | Sample | MoE | Ind | Rep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouGov | 2026-10-03 | 1809 LV | ±3.30 | Dan Osborn 48.00% | Pete Ricketts 47.00% |
| co/efficient (R) partisan·R R-sponsored | 2026-09-30 | 1113 LV | ±2.92 | Dan Osborn 43.00% | Pete Ricketts 48.00% |
| SurveyUSA | 2026-09-13 | 503 LV | ±3.90 | Dan Osborn 46.00% | Pete Ricketts 42.00% |
Questions About This Race
Who is winning the 2026 Nebraska Senate race?
Dan Osborn (I) and Pete Ricketts (R) are tied at 45.7% in the PollingSource polling average, based on 3 polls, the last three or fewer.
Is the 2026 Nebraska Senate race competitive?
Yes — the PollingSource polling average rates this race a Toss-up, the most competitive category.
What does the latest poll of the 2026 Nebraska Senate race say?
The most recent public poll, from YouGov (completed October 3, 2026), found Dan Osborn (I) at 48% and Pete Ricketts (R) at 47%.
When is the 2026 Nebraska Senate race decided?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
How is the PollingSource average calculated?
The PollingSource average is the unweighted mean of the last three scientific public polls, or fewer when fewer exist. One poll sets the rating when it ended in the last 30 days. We do not exclude pollsters. The table lists recent polls, including ones older than those three. Full details: pollingsource.com/methodology.
Race Notes
Appointed 2023; first full term election
Independent Expenditures Updated just now
Top Spenders
- NEBRASKA VALUES PAC Dem-aligned $9,322,048
- WORKING CLASS MAJORITY PAC, INC Dem-aligned $7,516,434
- CORNHUSKER MAJORITY GOP-aligned $6,921,853
- DEFEND AMERICAN JOBS $6,723,910
- THE EDGE ACTION FUND Dem-aligned $2,475,000
- WIN IT BACK PAC $2,055,524
- FREEDOM FROM POLITICS, INC. Dem-aligned $906,000
- UNITED FUTURES PAC Dem-aligned $646,368
- COMMON DEFENSE ACTION FUND GOP-aligned $422,825
- AB PAC Dem-aligned $371,912
Full outside-spending research — every committee, every race →
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