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Pete Ricketts wins Nebraska 2026 Senate election, CBS News projects
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts won reelection in the Nebraska Senate race, defeating independent challenger Dan Osborn, according to CBS News projections.
- Ricketts, a former Nebraska governor appointed to the Senate in 2023, faced a competitive race in a conservative state with a significant number of nonpartisan voters.
- Osborn, a former union leader who previously lost to Republican Sen. Deb Fischer in 2024, sought to capitalize on an unfavorable environment for the GOP amid issues like the war with Iran and high fuel prices.
- Ricketts' victory prevents a potential loss for the GOP that could have further reduced their Senate majority, providing relief after several Democratic wins in other states in the 2024 cycle.
