Nebraska Senate
Pete Ricketts (R) holds this seat and is running again. 5 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026. The Cook Political Report rates it leaning Republican.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Pete Ricketts
Republican · holds this seat today
ALiberty Score AOn the liberty side in 58 of 60 votes and bills.
Raised $14,546,959 since January 2025: 50% the candidate’s own money, 20% from people, 17% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Chuck Conboy
America First · America First Party nominee, retired sales worker and former union officer
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Conboy, and what Conboy has said and done settles only 1 of my principles. I went through it on October 30. A grade needs 4.
Mike Marvin
Legal Marijuana Now · Legal Marijuana Now nominee, stepped back from race
No gradeNothing on recordI have no votes in Congress to count for Marvin, and I found nothing Marvin has said or done on any of these questions: no campaign positions and no interview I could check. I went through it on October 21.
Raised $27,750 since January 2025: 100% from people. The filing at FEC.gov
Dan Osborn
Independent · union steamfitter, Navy veteran, independent
C-Liberty Score C-70 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Osborn has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Osborn.
Raised $11,029,845 since January 2025: 96% from people, 2% from PACs and other committees, 2% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Robin Richards
Working People · Working People Party chair, Ralston
No gradeNothing on recordI have no votes in Congress to count for Richards, and I found nothing Richards has said or done on any of these questions: no campaign positions and no interview I could check. I went through it on October 21.
Voting in Nebraska: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Chuck Conboy, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Conboy, so the grade above comes from this list: what Conboy has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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He said the United States has spent almost $40 billion on a war in Iran without results.
“We've spent almost $40 billion on a war in Iran that is just getting more expensive without results”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Criticising the cost of the war names no policy, bill or vote on the regime, so the words do not settle the measure.
-
His platform says there should be no more blank checks to foreign governments, and no endless foreign wars.
“No more blank checks to foreign governments at the expense of Americans”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A rule for all foreign aid names neither Ukraine, Taiwan nor NATO, so the words do not settle the measure.
-
Listed ending endless foreign wars that drain American blood and treasure as a platform plank.
“No more endless foreign wars that drain American blood and treasure”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
The words name no country, alliance or aid programme, so they do not settle the free nations test.
-
Listed peace through strength as a platform plank, limited to cases where American interests are directly at stake.
“Peace through strength — but only when American interests are directly at stake”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Peace through strength with no defence budget named does not settle the defense test.
-
He told a reporter that illegal immigrants should be removed and that taxpayers should not pay for them.
“Get rid of the illegal aliens”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Removing those here illegally is the deportation side of the measure.
-
His campaign platform calls for deporting criminals, dangerous individuals and those with no claim to remain.
“Deport criminals, dangerous individuals, and those who have no claim to remain”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Deporting those who break the law and securing the border follows the with side of the measure.
Dan Osborn, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Osborn, so the grade above comes from this list: what Osborn has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
Calls for ending the war in Iran without naming a policy, bill or vote.
“This means ending the war in Iran and cutting off aid to Israel until they end their aggression against Gaza and their neighbors.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Ending the war with no policy named is unclear for anyone.
-
Says the US should cut off aid to Israel until it ends its fighting in Gaza and against its neighbours.
“This means ending the war in Iran and cutting off aid to Israel until they end their aggression against Gaza and their neighbors.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
The measure counts cutting off or conditioning weapons or aid to Israel as against.
-
Supports a middle class income tax cut that lowers rates on wage income.
“I support a real middle class tax cut that lowers rates on wage income, expands credits that put money back in people's pockets, and makes the tax code work for people who punch a clock rather than people who punch a number into a brokerage account.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named cut in income tax rates is with liberty on free markets.
-
Opposes blanket tariffs because of their cost to families and small businesses.
“Blanket tariffs raise everyday costs for small businesses and families like mine.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing broad tariffs is with liberty on free markets.
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Proposes higher pay for service members.
“Raise Serviceman Pay”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Funding and equipping the armed forces, including pay, is with liberty on defense.
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Says he supports strong border security and a border wall where it makes sense.
“I'll fight for a border wall where it makes sense, and other strategies where it doesn't, like in Big Bend National Park.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing a wall and border security is with liberty on borders.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. Race rating: the Cook Political Report, November 2, 2026. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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Nebraska Senate
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