Dan Osborn | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Osborn in 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1975-03-29)March 29, 1975 (age 50) |
| Party | Independent |
| Spouse | Megan Osborn |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | Official website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | |
| Unit | USS Constellation (CV-64) (Navy) Nebraska Army National Guard Idaho Army National Guard Tennessee Army National Guard |
Daniel L. Osborn (born March 29, 1975) is aU.S. Navy veteran,industrial mechanic, formerlabor union leader, andindependent politician fromNebraska.
Osborn served in theNebraska Army National Guard before working atKellogg's Omaha plant. He eventually became president ofBakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50G and led thestrike at Kellogg's Omaha plant in 2021.
Osborn ran in the regular2024 United States Senate election in Nebraska.[1] He drew attention for his unorthodox,populist platform and his unusually high-level support as a moderate independent candidate in what is usually astrongly Republican state. Some polls showed him in a dead heat with incumbentDeb Fischer, but she won by 7 points. Osborn's performance was the best ever for an independent candidate in a Nebraska US Senate race.Split Ticket, a data-driven political analysis and forecasting site, wrote that his performance was the strongest relative to the partisan nature of Senate elections.[2][3]
In 2024, Osborn established apolitical action committee (PAC) to support working-class candidates.[4][5] In 2025, he formed anexploratory committee for a possible run in the2026 United States Senate election in Nebraska. On July 8, 2025, Osborn announced that he would enter the race as an independent, challenging incumbent U.S. SenatorPete Ricketts.[6][7][8]
Dan Osborn was born on March 29, 1975.[9] His mother was aseamstress,[10] and his father, Gary, worked forUnion Pacific Railroad, loading cargo;[11] after retiring, he also served as a RepublicanDodge County Commissioner.[12][13][14]
When Osborn was seven, his family moved toOmaha after his father was transferred with Union Pacific.[10] After an accident, Osborn's father was moved to the railroad company's management side and transferred out of state.[11] Osborn stayed in Omaha to finish high school and lived on his own starting at age 16, paying rent with odd jobs.[11] He graduated fromRoncalli Catholic High School in 1994.[10][15]
After high school, Osborn enlisted in theUnited States Navy. He served four years as astorekeeper aboard the aircraft carrierUSS Constellation (CV-64), completing two Western Pacific cruises and twoExercise RIMPAC cruises.[15]
Osborn later joined theNebraska Army National Guard. He attended the 19K Tanker school at theIdaho Army National Guard and served in theTennessee National Guard.[10]
In 2004, Osborn began working as an industrial mechanic at theKellogg's Omaha plant, fixing the factory's machines.[16][17] He eventually became president ofBakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50G.[18][19][20] He rose to national prominence when he led the2021 Kellogg's strike at the plant.[16][21][22][23] The strike, which was prompted by a two-tier system of pay, and included other plants across the country, lasted 77 days.[1][19]
Kellogg's later fired Osborn.[24] He turned toboiler maintenance and repair work atBoys Town and became a member ofSteamfitters and Plumbers Local 464.[25]
Both incumbentRepublicanU.S. Senators from Nebraska ran for reelection in 2024, one in aspecial election and the other in aregular election. Osborn ran as anindependent in the latter race against Fischer, who had noDemocratic challenger. Osborn said he could represent working- and middle-class constituencies better than wealthy, establishment politicians.[26]
Osborn officially announced his candidacy as an independent candidate on October 5, 2023.[15] By March 2024, he had collected 4,000 signatures from Nebraska voters, enough to be eligible for the November ballot.[27][28] In August he submitted more than 12,000, guaranteeing his place on the ballot.[29]
Osborn has been registered asnonpartisan since registering to vote in 2004.[30] Although Democrats chose not to run a candidate in the Senate election, Osborn declined their endorsement.[1][31] The state Democratic Party considered running awrite-in candidate,[32] accusing Osborn of misleading them about his intentions, but Osborn said he had always been clear that he would not accept endorsements fromany political party.[33] Osborn wanted to form an independent caucus in the Senate rather than caucus with either party.[34] He called the current system a "two-party doom loop".[35] TheReform Party of the United States endorsed him in September 2024.[36] Senate Democrats did not engage with or help Osborn's campaign.[37]
Osborn raised more campaign funds, mostlysmall-dollar donations, than any independent candidate in Nebraska's history.[38] The last independent to win a Senate seat in Nebraska was progressiveGeorge Norris in 1936.[39]
Asked about his prospects in the race by theNew York Times, Osborn said: "I've gone up against a major American corporation. I stood up for what I thought was right, and I won."[1] Of the major candidates in the2024 United States presidential election he said (beforeJoe Biden withdrew): "I think they're both too old. I think they're both incompetent. There's a good chance I won't vote for president."[1] He later said he intended to vote for one of the two major-party candidates.[40]
The race between Osborn and Fischer, for what is usually asafe Republican Senate seat,[41][42] was unusually competitive for Nebraska, and potentially important in determining partisan control of the Senate.[43][44] In an August 2024SurveyUSA poll sponsored bySplit Ticket, Fischer held a narrow lead of 39% to 38% over Osborn, within the margin of error, while 23% of voters were undecided. The poll led theNebraska Examiner to call the election a tight race.[45] TheCook Political Report's Senate and governor's editor said: "This is probably the most surprising race of the cycle. [Osborn] is such a different type of politician. He's ablue-collar worker—a mechanic. I think Fischer is a lower-profile senator who isn't as well known."[46] Various polls showed both of them leading and the race extremely tight.[40][47] An October 28New York Times/Siena College poll showed Osborn two points behind Fischer, well within the margin of error.[48] Fischer won the election, 53% to 47%.[49][50]
Politico reported that the Democrats, after their losses in the2024 elections, were studying Osborn's unusually competitive campaign, especially in a deepred state, as they rebuild their party and its image.[51]
On July 8, 2025, Osborn announced he would run as an independent in the2026 United States Senate election for the Class II seat held by RepublicanPete Ricketts.[52][53][54] According to his team, Osborn raised about $2 million in 2025 for his campaign.[55]
Osborn's campaign platform was considered unorthodox and populist.[40] It focused on protecting small businesses, family farmers, and workers.[26]
Osborn's policy positions included raising thenational minimum wage; lowering the tax rate for small businesses and overtime work; increasingborder security and building theMexico–United States border wall to stopillegal immigration;reforming the immigration system and exploring ways to legalize non-criminal long-termundocumented workers; ensuring resources forlaw enforcement and first responders;legalizing and taxing marijuana; improving railroad safety; guaranteeingaccess to abortion within the limits set byRoe v. Wade and opposing anational abortion ban; facilitatingunion organizing; and protectinggun rights. Osborn supported a "libertarian approach" tohot-button issues likeabortion rights and said that government should be kept out of private lives. He supported theright-to-repair of consumer goods such as cars and electronics, raising the cap on Social Security contributions for those with higher incomes and moving the full retirement age for Social Security benefits back to 65.[56][57][58][47][59][60]
Osborn has said he is personallypro-life but supportsRoe, saying, "SinceRoe v. Wade has been overturned, abortions are on the rise and women are dying." He said he supported "a woman being able to choose for her own body" but opposedlate-term abortions, calling them "disgusting" and saying, "I don't know anybody who agrees with that."[61]
Osborn supports "defensive purpose only funding" toIsrael.[62]
Osborn supported protectinggun rights and theSecond Amendment, while also supportinggun safety education in schools.[63][64]
After launching his 2026 campaign, Osborn said he would "welcome donations from anyone, whether you're a Republican, Democrat, Independent,Libertarian,America Party", and said his primary goal if elected is to get big money out of American politics.[65] Of theOne Big Beautiful Bill Act and voters, he said: "They were sold a bill of goods that if you work hard in this country, your government is going to be there to have a level playing field for you to get ahead. But now we're seeing tax cuts for the billionaires at the expense of workers, people that are struggling to get by."[53]
Osborn lives inOmaha, Nebraska, with his wife, Megan; they have three children.[66] He isCatholic.[67]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Deb Fischer (incumbent) | 499,124 | 53.19% | −4.50% | |
| Independent | Dan Osborn | 436,493 | 46.52% | — | |
| Write-in | 2,719 | 0.29% | +0.22 | ||
| Majority | 62,631 | 6.67% | −12.39% | ||
| Total votes | 938,336 | 100.00% | |||
| Republicanhold | |||||
Osborn gained national prominence after he led the 2021 strike as president of the local Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union.
