OMAHA, Neb. — On Tuesday, Republican Senator Deb Fischer is set to confront her toughest reelection challenge yet, facing off against Dan Osborn, a former labor union leader who has chosen to run as an independent, distancing himself from both major political parties. He positions himself as a champion for the working class, which has resonated with voters across Nebraska, as indicated by recent polls.
Fischer, a two-term Republican in a predominantly conservative state, finds herself navigating uncharted waters with a competitive race. She has faced not just pushback from her opponent but also criticism from within her own party ranks. Recently, the Nebraska GOP, which has shifted to align more closely with former President Donald Trump, endorsed competitors in the primary against all five Republican members of the state’s congressional delegation, including Fischer.
Political analyst John Hibbing, a retired political science professor from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, noted several factors contributing to Osborn’s surprisingly effective campaign against Fischer. He pointed out her relatively scant legislative record after 12 years in the Senate and the contradiction of her running for a third term despite previously advocating for a two-term limit for senators. “Osborn is not running as a Democrat, which is significant and makes him appealing to many constituents,” Hibbing added.
A substantial part of Osborn’s appeal is derived from his working-class background, boasting two decades as an industrial mechanic and serving in both the Navy and Nebraska Army National Guard. He gained notable attention after leading a successful strike at a Kellogg’s cereal plant in Omaha in 2021 that secured better wages for approximately 1,400 employees, a move that came amid record profits for the company.
Throughout his campaign, Osborn has focused on advocating for fair economic practices, contrasting his experiences with Fischer’s, who he claims has prospered financially while ordinary families continue to struggle. He frequently references the late U.S. Senator George Norris, whom he describes as “the last independent senator from Nebraska,” pledging that if elected, he will not align himself with either the Republican or Democratic parties. Norris served from 1913 to 1943 and shifted from Republican to independent in his final term.
“That’s one of the main reasons I’m running: to be accountable solely to the people who elect me,” Osborn stated during a recent campaign appearance.
Fischer, having opted not to engage in debates with Osborn, has responded to his rising profile by utilizing aggressive television advertisements that label him as a liberal, warning that his victory could jeopardize the Republicans’ control of the Senate. To bolster her campaign, Fischer recently held a press conference displaying endorsements from several notable Republicans in the state, including former popular Governor Dave Heineman. She has also emphasized her support for Donald Trump, despite previously suggesting he withdraw from the 2016 presidential race after controversial comments surfaced. Trump has endorsed Fischer for her reelection, a point she has prominently featured in her campaign messaging.