Dan Osborn Surges Ahead in Q1 Fundraising, Outraising Incumbent Pete Ricketts by $200,000
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska’s 2026 U.S. Senate race heats up as nonpartisan candidate Dan Osborn outpaced incumbent Republican Senator Pete Ricketts in first-quarter fundraising, raising approximately $1.2 million compared to $1 million for Ricketts. This marks a significant moment in the campaign, though the incumbent still leads in total funds raised and cash on hand heading into the critical May 12 primary election.
Osborn’s haul represents a roughly $200,000 fundraising edge for the first three months of 2026, signaling robust grassroots support for the former labor leader who is pitching himself as a working-class populist ready to challenge the entrenched political establishment. Osborn’s campaign manager, John Dolan, emphasized the importance of these numbers.
“We continue to see a groundswell of grassroots support for Dan,” Dolan said. “Nebraskans are sick and tired of do-nothing politicians like Pete Ricketts and believe that the only way to fix Washington is to elect a mechanic.”
Fundraising Breakdown: Osborn Gains Ground but Ricketts Holds Financial Lead
Despite Osborn’s strong first-quarter performance, Senator Ricketts maintains a financial advantage overall, with $4.2 million raised for the current election cycle compared to Osborn’s $2.3 million. Ricketts holds almost $1.6 million in cash on hand, bolstered by the independent Ricketts Victory Committee, which raised nearly $900,000 this quarter. This committee supports not only Ricketts but also other conservative candidates and PACs.
Ricketts’s fundraising strength is further bolstered by six-figure contributions from major business PACs, including $3,000 from Walmart’s PAC for Responsible Government and $5,000 each from Google LLC’s NetPAC and Microsoft’s Stakeholders Voluntary PAC. These large donors contrast with many of Osborn’s smaller donations coming from individuals in California, New York, and Nebraska, alongside union-backed support such as $5,000 from the American Postal Workers Union Committee.
Campaign Spending and Controversies Emerge in Q1 Reports
The campaign finance reports also reveal Osborn has spent $10,000 on fundraising consulting and $17,500 on digital ads, indicating a focused effort on voter outreach. Meanwhile, Ricketts paid $39,000 for political consulting and $13,750 for direct mail campaigns this quarter.
Osborn faces criticism from the Ricketts campaign and allied groups over payments made to himself and his family from campaign funds. For the quarter, Osborn’s campaign paid him $2,479 and his wife Megan $15,879, drawing scrutiny and Federal Election Commission complaints alleging irregularities. The Osborn campaign denies wrongdoing, calling the complaints “baseless” and highlighting Megan Osborn’s transition to full-time campaign staff from her consulting role.
Ricketts spokesperson Will Coup commented, “This report raises continued questions about Osborn’s fundraising and whether it skirts the law.”
Throughout the campaign, Ricketts has highlighted his commitment to Nebraska, boasting that the state remains the top source of his contributions.
“Nebraskans know I will always put our state first … This is a campaign powered by Nebraskans, for Nebraskans,” Ricketts said in a statement.
What’s Next: Nebraska Primary and Campaign Outlook
With early voting already underway, the May 12 Republican primary will test Ricketts’s hold over his party and examine whether Osborn can capitalize on his fundraising momentum amid a potentially divided Democratic field. Osborn seeks to improve on his narrow loss in the 2024 Senate race, hoping his growing campaign funds and grassroots movement translate into success this November.
Both campaigns are preparing for an intense final stretch in a race that could have ripple effects for U.S. Senate control and conservative momentum nationwide.
Stay tuned as further fundraising reports and primary results emerge. The Nebraska Senate race is shaping up as a top contest to watch in the 2026 midterms.
