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United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2026

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U.S. Senate, Nebraska
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General election
Election details
Filing deadline: Pending
Primary: May 12, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central time zone); 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Mountain time zone)
Voting in Nebraska

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Likely Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
U.S. Senate, Nebraska
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd
Nebraska elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

Voters in Nebraska will elect one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 3, 2026. The election will fill the Class II Senate seat held by Pete Ricketts (R), who first took office in 2023. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

  • Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
  • Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. Senate Nebraska

Incumbent Pete Ricketts, Edward Dunn, and Dan Osborn are running in the general election for U.S. Senate Nebraska on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Pete Ricketts
Pete Ricketts (R)
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Edward Dunn (R)
Image of Dan Osborn
Dan Osborn (Nonpartisan)

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Candidate profiles

There are currently no candidate profiles created for this race. Candidate profiles will appear here as they are created. Encourage the candidates in this race to complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey so that their profile will appear here. You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

Voting information

See also: Voting in Nebraska

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

No candidate in this race has completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Ballotpedia is seeking 100 percent participation so voters can learn more about all the candidates on their ballots.

You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:


Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Pete Ricketts Republican Party $2,466,702 $1,796,821 $1,192,799 As of September 30, 2025
Edward Dunn Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Dan Osborn Nonpartisan $1,350,898 $897,272 $516,791 As of September 30, 2025

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[1]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[2][3][4]

Race ratings: U.S. Senate election in Nebraska, 2026
Race trackerRace ratings
12/2/202511/25/202511/18/202511/11/2025
The Cook Political Report with Amy WalterSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The HillPendingPendingPendingPending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallLikely RepublicanLikely RepublicanLikely RepublicanLikely Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Nebraska in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nebraska, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Nebraska U.S. Senate Ballot-qualified party N/A 1% of annual salary Incumbents: 2/17/2026, Non-incumbents: 3/2/2026 Source
Nebraska U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 4,000 1% of annual salary Incumbents: 2/17/2026, Non-incumbents: 3/2/2026 Source


Election history

The section below details election results for this state's U.S. Senate elections dating back to 2018.

2024

See also: United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2024

General election
General election for U.S. Senate Nebraska

Incumbent Deb Fischer defeated Dan Osborn in the general election for U.S. Senate Nebraska on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Deb Fischer
Deb Fischer (R)
 
53.2
 
499,124
Image of Dan Osborn
Dan Osborn (Nonpartisan)
 
46.5
 
436,493
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.3
 
2,719

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 938,336
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Democratic primary election

No Democratic candidates ran in the primary.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Nebraska

Incumbent Deb Fischer defeated Arron Kowalski in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Nebraska on May 14, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Deb Fischer
Deb Fischer
 
79.8
 
174,820
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Arron Kowalski
 
20.2
 
44,334

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 219,154
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election
Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. Senate Nebraska

Kerry Eddy defeated Kenneth Peterson in the Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. Senate Nebraska on May 14, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kerry Eddy
Kerry Eddy Candidate Connection
 
70.8
 
743
Image of Kenneth Peterson
Kenneth Peterson
 
29.2
 
306

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,049
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Nebraska

Incumbent Ben Sasse defeated Chris Janicek, Preston Love Jr., and Gene Siadek in the general election for U.S. Senate Nebraska on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Sasse
Ben Sasse (R)
 
62.7
 
583,507
Image of Chris Janicek
Chris Janicek (D) Candidate Connection
 
24.4
 
227,191
Image of Preston Love Jr.
Preston Love Jr. (D) (Write-in)
 
6.3
 
58,411
Image of Gene Siadek
Gene Siadek (L) Candidate Connection
 
5.9
 
55,115
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.6
 
5,788

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 930,012
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Nebraska

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Nebraska on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Chris Janicek
Chris Janicek Candidate Connection
 
30.7
 
46,247
Image of Angie Philips
Angie Philips
 
23.8
 
35,929
Image of Alisha Shelton
Alisha Shelton
 
22.7
 
34,284
Image of Andrew Stock
Andrew Stock Candidate Connection
 
11.4
 
17,156
Image of Larry Marvin
Larry Marvin
 
4.6
 
6,868
Image of Daniel Wik
Daniel Wik
 
3.8
 
5,765
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Dennis Macek
 
3.0
 
4,453

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 150,702
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Nebraska

Incumbent Ben Sasse defeated Matt Innis in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Nebraska on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Sasse
Ben Sasse
 
75.2
 
215,207
Image of Matt Innis
Matt Innis
 
24.8
 
70,921

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 286,128
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate Nebraska

Gene Siadek advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate Nebraska on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Gene Siadek
Gene Siadek Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
2,517

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,517
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Nebraska

Incumbent Deb Fischer defeated Jane Raybould and Jim Schultz in the general election for U.S. Senate Nebraska on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Deb Fischer
Deb Fischer (R)
 
57.7
 
403,151
Image of Jane Raybould
Jane Raybould (D)
 
38.6
 
269,917
Image of Jim Schultz
Jim Schultz (L)
 
3.6
 
25,349
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
466

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 698,883
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.



Election analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about demographics, past elections, and partisan control of the state.

  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the state.
  • Statewide elections - Information about recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections in the state.
  • State partisanship - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.
  • Demographics - Information about the state's demographics and how they compare to the country as a whole.


See also: Presidential voting trends in Nebraska and The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Cook PVI by congressional district

Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index for Nebraska, 2026
District Incumbent PVI
Nebraska's 1st Mike Flood R+6
Nebraska's 2nd Don Bacon D+3
Nebraska's 3rd Adrian Smith R+27

2024 presidential results by 2026 congressional district lines

2024 presidential results in congressional districts, Nebraska
District Kamala Harris Democratic Party Donald Trump Republican Party
Nebraska's 1st 43.0% 56.0%
Nebraska's 2nd 52.0% 47.0%
Nebraska's 3rd 23.0% 76.0%
Source: The Downballot

2016-2024

How a state's counties vote in a presidential election and the size of those counties can provide additional insights into election outcomes at other levels of government including statewide and congressional races. Below, four categories are used to describe each county's voting pattern over the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections: Solid, Trending, Battleground, and New. Click [show] on the table below for examples:


Following the 2024 presidential election, 53.7% of Nebraskans lived in one of the state's 91 Solid Republican counties, which voted for the Republican presidential candidate in every election from 2016 to 2024, and 46.3% lived in one of 2 Solid Democratic counties. Overall, Nebraska was Solid Republican, having voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016, Donald Trump (R) in 2020, and Donald Trump (R) in 2024. Use the table below to view the total number of each type of county in Nebraska following the 2024 election as well as the overall percentage of the state population located in each county type.

Historical voting trends

Nebraska presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 6 Democratic wins
  • 27 Republican wins
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party R R D D D R R R D D R R R R R R D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

This section details the results of the five most recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections held in the state.

U.S. Senate elections

See also: List of United States Senators from Nebraska

The table below details the vote in the five most recent U.S. Senate races in Nebraska.

U.S. Senate election results in Nebraska
Race Winner Runner up
2024 53.2%Republican Party 46.5%Independent (Nonpartisan)
2024 62.6%Republican Party 37.4%Democratic Party
2020 62.7%Republican Party 24.4%Democratic Party
2018 57.7%Republican Party 38.6%Democratic Party
2014 64.4%Republican Party 31.5%Democratic Party
Average 60.1 35.7

Gubernatorial elections

See also: Governor of Nebraska

The table below details the vote in the five most recent gubernatorial elections in Nebraska.

Gubernatorial election results in Nebraska
Race Winner Runner up
2022 59.2%Republican Party 36.0%Democratic Party
2018 59.0%Republican Party 41.0%Democratic Party
2014 57.2%Republican Party 39.2%Democratic Party
2010 73.9%Republican Party 26.1%Democratic Party
2006 73.4%Republican Party 24.5%Democratic Party
Average 64.5 33.4
See also: Party control of Nebraska state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Nebraska's congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Nebraska
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 0 0 0
Republican 2 3 5
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 3 5

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Nebraska's top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in Nebraska, October 2025
Office Officeholder
Governor Republican Party Jim Pillen
Lieutenant Governor Republican Party Joe Kelly
Secretary of State Republican Party Bob Evnen
Attorney General Republican Party Mike Hilgers

State legislature

Nebraska State Senate

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 14
     Republican Party 33
     Other 2
     Vacancies 0
Total 49

Trifecta control

Nebraska Party Control: 1992-2025
Seven years of Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-seven years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The table below details demographic data in Nebraska and compares it to the broader United States as of 2023.

Demographic Data for Nebraska
Nebraska United States
Population 1,961,504 331,449,281
Land area (sq mi) 76,814 3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White 79.9% 63.4%
Black/African American 4.8% 12.4%
Asian 2.5% 5.8%
Native American 1% 0.9%
Pacific Islander 0.1% 0.4%
Other (single race) 4.2% 6.6%
Multiple 7.6% 10.7%
Hispanic/Latino 12.3% 19%
Education
High school graduation rate 92.1% 89.4%
College graduation rate 34.1% 35%
Income
Median household income $74,985 $78,538
Persons below poverty level 10.3% 12.4%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2018-2023).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

See also

Nebraska 2026 primaries 2026 U.S. Congress elections
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Nebraska congressional delegation
Voting in Nebraska
Nebraska elections:
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Democratic primary battlegrounds
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Ballot access

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  2. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  3. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  4. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018


Nebraska's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Deb Fischer (R)
Pete Ricketts (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
Don Bacon (R)
District 3
Republican Party (5)


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