Nebraska’s statewide seats have been solidly Republican for years: The get together has gained a majority within the final 5 Senate races, the final seven governor’s races, and the final 14 presidential elections.
This cycle, nevertheless, impartial Senate candidate Dan Osborn — a Navy veteran and former union chief — seems to be making the race way more aggressive than it usually is. In accordance with a New York Instances/Siena ballot launched in late October, incumbent Republican Sen. Deb Fischer was up by simply 2 share factors, profitable 48 % help to Osborn’s 46 %. That’s surprisingly shut for a Senate race within the state: In 2018 and 2020, Fischer and former Sen. Ben Sasse (R) gained their elections by properly over 10 factors.
Osborn has efficiently upended what ought to have been a simple race for Fischer by framing himself as an outsider, in addition to a candidate who’s not beholden to — and doesn’t slot in with — both get together.
A mechanic who beforehand led a union strike towards the Kellogg’s cereal firm in 2021, Osborn has pitched himself as a real impartial, embracing some stances that align with Republicans like constructing the border wall, whereas additionally backing some Democratic ones like opposing nationwide abortion bans. He’s additionally been fast to criticize members of each events, whereas tying himself to nationwide figures beloved in Nebraska, like Trump.
“An essential a part of his success is that he has efficiently portrayed himself as sort of like an anti-partisan,” says Kevin Smith, a political scientist on the College of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Osborn has stated if he wins, he doesn’t intend to caucus with both get together. That final result would mark a big loss for Republicans, who’ve counted on Nebraska as a protected seat whereas they eye the retaking of the Senate majority. Though the GOP might properly safe that majority no matter what occurs in Nebraska, an Osborn victory would imply it’s a narrower one, making it harder for the get together to perform its coverage objectives and make sure judicial nominees.
A narrowly divided Senate could possibly be good for a Sen. Osborn, nevertheless: As current phrases have made evident, such circumstances give independents — together with the likes of Sens. Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) — outsize energy in shaping laws.
How the Nebraska Senate race obtained so shut
Fischer is a two-term Republican and cattle rancher who presently sits on the Senate Armed Companies and Commerce Committees. She’s a comparatively commonplace conservative Republican who has much less of a nationwide profile than a few of the different lawmakers up this cycle, reminiscent of Sens. Ted Cruz (TX) and Josh Hawley (MO).
Osborn has capitalized on this lack of profile to color Fischer as a run-of-the-mill politician who’s out of contact together with her constituents. He argues that she’s gotten wealthier whereas serving within the Senate with out having carried out a lot for her constituents. He claims, too, that she’s extra aware of companies which have donated to her than she is to her fellow Nebraskans.
In one of many major adverts focusing on Fischer, Osborn quips that she “has taken a lot company money, she ought to put on patches, like Nascar.” Apparently, Fischer additionally beforehand promised to time period restrict herself and solely serve two phrases within the Senate. Her resolution to run once more seems to contradict that prior place for some voters.
On the marketing campaign path, Osborn has additionally highlighted his historical past as a union member and his advocacy for higher wages and dealing situations. He beforehand gained a profile regionally when he spearheaded a months-long strike towards Kellogg’s in Omaha amid employee issues that the corporate was shortchanging new staff on points together with pensions and vacation pay.
“I believe the attraction of Osborn is character and backstory. You understand basically that the important thing message is, I’m a working stiff, identical to you guys,” Smith instructed Vox.
Though Osborn has stated he’d again a bipartisan immigration deal and a few type of gun management, he’s additionally tied himself extra intently to Trump in current adverts. In a single, he criticizes Fischer for pulling her help of the previous president after the Entry Hollywood tape got here out in 2016 and compares her to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In one other, he says that he’s “the place President Trump is” on a number of points together with “China, corruption, the border.”
His union resume and iconoclastic coverage positions seem like serving to him construct a broad, uncommon coalition. His nonpartisan stance has been interesting to independents, whereas his critiques of Washington and his affinity for a few of Trump’s insurance policies attraction to Republicans who could also be fed up with the prevailing system. As a result of there’s no Democrat operating within the race and because of his union background, he’s additionally prone to decide up sizable Democratic help.
“I believe that Fischer’s marketing campaign was not anticipating this to be a aggressive race, however they actually weren’t paying very a lot consideration to him earlier within the marketing campaign cycle,” says Dona-Gene Barton, a political scientist on the College of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Fischer’s marketing campaign has “acknowledged that the race is nearer than anticipated,” the Related Press experiences. And she or he’s rejected Osborn’s characterization: She’s touted her conservative document in addition to her endorsement from Trump, describing Osborn as “too far left.”
Due to Republicans’ dominance within the state, consultants word that whereas an Osborn victory is believable, Fischer probably retains a bonus. “Based mostly on the polling knowledge, [an Osborn win is] very a lot throughout the realm of risk,” says Smith. “If I used to be a betting individual, I’d nonetheless give Fischer an edge based mostly on get together registrations.”
The scale of the Senate majority is at stake
The Senate map is trying pretty dire for Democrats. The get together presently holds a slender majority and faces aggressive races in as many as 9 states together with Montana and Ohio.
An Osborn win would assist offset potential losses that Democrats might properly see elsewhere, although it’s not but evident precisely to what extent. Whereas his success would deprive Republicans of a assured seat, Osborn’s refusal to align with both get together might see him working with each on completely different insurance policies.
Osborn might function in the identical vein as different independents like Manchin who vote predominantly consistent with one of many events however sometimes deviate on sure points. He is also a whole wildcard who events try to cater to with the intention to win his vote.
In follow, Osborn would finally need to caucus with one of many events with the intention to play a bigger position within the Senate. If he didn’t, he’d probably have a troublesome time getting key spots on committees. Senators are finest capable of impact change and craft coverage utilizing these panels, which form laws and maintain hearings.
“The truth is, if you wish to be on a committee, then you might want to be with a celebration,” says J. Miles Coleman, an affiliate editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball.
The Senate majority apart, a loss in a safely Republican state at this degree would nonetheless deal a significant blow to the GOP.
“I believe how Democrats are taking a look at it’s that it could nonetheless web a loss for Republicans,” says Prepare dinner Political Report Senate professional Jessica Taylor.
