Dan Osborn, the registered independent candidate in Nebraska’s highly watched U.S. Senate election, reiterated his refusal to join either the Democratic or Republican caucus during a virtual press conference on Monday. Facing incumbent Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts, Osborn has consistently stated he will not align with either party if elected. This stance directly challenges Senate traditions, where committee assignments—essential for drafting legislation—are controlled by party leadership.
Osborn’s position gained broader attention after he aligned with Brian Bengs of South Dakota and Seth Bodnar of Montana, two other independent Senate candidates. The three argued that their votes could carry outsized weight in a closely divided Senate, suggesting they might negotiate for committee roles despite lacking formal party ties. “We’re not going to caucus with either party,” Osborn declared. “Independent means independent.”
However, Senate rules and political realities create significant obstacles for this approach. Committee assignments are typically determined by party leaders, leaving senators without caucus affiliation at risk of limited influence. Geoff Lorenz, a political science professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, noted that Osborn would need to demonstrate his status as a true swing vote to earn a seat at the table. Lorenz said Osborn’s hypothetical strategy isn’t impossible, as Senate rules and procedures can change, but there isn’t “necessarily a good template for doing it.” “What Dan Osborn would have to do instead, if he wasn’t on committees … he would be to build a reputation for genuine independence,” Lorenz said.
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Independent senators face tough party pressures
Osborn’s strategy parallels that of past independent senators, including Bernie Sanders and Angus King, who caucus with Democrats while retaining their nonpartisan identity. Historical examples show independents often face pressure to align with a major party to advance their policy goals. Wayne Morse, an independent senator in the 1950s, ultimately joined the Democrats to secure committee assignments.
Osborn has pointed to Senate rules that require each senator to serve on at least two committees. The rule doesn’t guarantee which committees a senator serves on, and Lorenz emphasized that parties control how they divide them up. Ricketts serves on four Senate committees: Environment and Public Works; Foreign Relations; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; and Budget. Without party affiliation, Osborn’s chances of securing influential roles remain uncertain.
The Ricketts campaign dismissed Osborn’s claims as disingenuous, labeling him a “fake independent.” Republicans argue that Osborn would caucus with Democrats if elected, pointing to a 2025 town hall where Osborn allegedly made such a statement.
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Ricketts campaign accuses Osborn of hypocrisy
When confronted with the allegation during Monday’s press conference, Osborn denied it outright, calling the reporting “fake news” in language reminiscent of former President Donald Trump. He accused opponents of selectively quoting his remarks to misrepresent his position. “They could have taken any one of my talks and said I won’t caucus with Republicans, or they could say I won’t caucus with Democrats in the same regard.
They take snippets of what I say, turn it around to try to work against me,” Osborn told the Examiner. “So you know, all I can say is what we’ve said again definitively here today. I got no interest in caucusing with either party.” The Plains Sentinel, which originally published the report, later released an audio clip from the town hall to support its claim.
Early voting has already begun, with the general election set for November 3. Whether Osborn can sustain his independence, and whether that independence will translate into meaningful legislative power, remains a central question in this high-stakes race. The outcome could set a precedent for future independent candidates in red states.
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