Incumbent Deb Fischer (R) and Dan Osborn (Independent) are running in the general election for U.S. Senate in Nebraska on Nov. 5, 2024.

Fischer was first elected in 2012.

No Democratic candidate filed to run. According to Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb, the party decided not to run a candidate after talks with Osborn.

According to The Hill, August polling showed “Fischer running neck and neck with Osborn, raising eyebrows among political observers and leading some to wonder just how competitive the race might turn out to be.” The outlet reported that Osborn’s independent affiliation has made the race hard to predict.

Osborn describes himself as an independent and says his campaign has support from people “across the political spectrum who are tired of our broken government in Washington.” Osborn says he will not accept endorsements from any political parties but that he would “take endorsements from small businesses, from veterans, from unions, from normal people.”

Fischer says Osborn is “a Democrat in sheep’s clothing.” Fischer says she believes Osborn hasn’t been open about his affiliation, saying, “He doesn’t say who he will caucus with. He won’t say who he’s going to vote for for president.”

As of Sept. 24, 2024, four major election forecasters rated the contest Solid/Safe Republican. According to the Nebraska Examiner, “Osborn’s campaign and some Democrats argue that his nonpartisan label could help him,” while “Democratic leaders and others have said that without the party’s backing, he might struggle to consolidate left-leaning support.” According to The Hill, “Observers caution against assuming this year’s race will buck historic trends in the state, which has sent GOP candidates to both its Senate seats since 2012.”

Fischer owns a cattle ranch and was a school board member in Valentine, Nebraska, from 1990 to 2004. She served in the Nebraska Legislature from 2005 to 2013. Fischer is campaigning on her legislative record in the Senate. Highlighting her membership on the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, Fischer says she believes “the first priority of the federal government is a robust national defense” and that she is “committed to ensuring our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to fulfill their missions.” Fischer is a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture and says she has represented Nebraska’s agriculture industry in that position. Fischer says she is “a leading voice for modernizing our nation’s infrastructure” and that she is “focused on improving our roads, rebuilding crumbling bridges, and expanding quality broadband access.”

Osborn is a mechanic and union leader. He served in the U.S. Navy and the Nebraska Army National Guard. Osborn says he would “be a champion for all working people in Nebraska” if elected. He is also campaigning on his experience leading a 2021 strike at a Kellogg’s plant, saying he has the experience to “protect middle-class jobs and wages.” Highlighting his military service, Osborn says he believes the government should increase military pay and provide job training for veterans, saying, “Those who serve our country should not be left behind when they return home.” Osborn says he opposes “efforts to legislate how private citizens should conduct themselves” and that he would support gun ownership, advocate for legalizing marijuana, and oppose national legislation on abortion.

On July 30, 2024, Kerry Eddy (Legal Marijuana Now Party) withdrew from the election and endorsed Osborn. She advanced from her party’s May primary. During her primary campaign, Eddy said she would withdraw if she thought Osborn was more likely than her to defeat Fischer in the general election. To read more on Eddy’s campaign and the Legal Marijuana Now Party’s candidate process, click here.

The outcome of this race will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate in 2025.

Thirty-four of 100 seats are up for election, including one special election. Of the seats up for election in 2024, Democrats hold 19, Republicans hold 11, and independents hold four. As of May 2024, eight members of the U.S. Senate had announced they were not running for re-election.