A new New York Times/Siena poll in Nebraska finds Deb Fischer (R) clinging to a lead over challenger Dan Osborne (I), 48% to 46%.
A Sleeper Senate Race Tightens in Nebraska
“At a recent series of campaign stops in small-town Nebraska, Dan Osborn, the little-known labor leader and car mechanic who is running for Senate as an independent, made his pitch to voters in the form of an allegory about the mice who elect cats to represent them,” the New York Times reports.
“As Mr. Osborn tells it, the mice keep voting for different breeds of cats in the hope that one will make good on their promises to make things better, but none ever do. Eventually, the mice realize that their real problem is not which cat they elect — it’s that they keep electing cats in the first place…”
“The populist appeal — in which members of both major political parties are cast as feline villains and Mr. Osborn as one of the preyed-upon rodents — has helped propel his challenge to Senator Deb Fischer, a second-term Republican who until recently had appeared to be on a glide path to re-election. Now, polls show the two in a tightening race that could potentially sway the balance of power in the Senate.”
Pennsylvania Senate Race Now a Toss Up
The Cook Political Report moved Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race from Lean Democrat to Toss Up.
And in Nebraska, the U.S. Senate race shifted from Likely Republican to Lean Republican.
Senate Republicans Spending Money in Nebraska
“Senate Republicans’ top super PAC is jumping into Nebraska’s closer-than-expected Senate race,” Semafor reports.
“The Senate Leadership Fund plans to spend $3 million in the Cornhusker State over the final two weeks of the election. It’s the latest sign that Republicans are taking Independent candidate Dan Osborn seriously as he mounts a tough challenge to GOP Sen. Deb Fischer — who is lagging behind Donald Trump in Nebraska.”
USA Today: Nebraska independent Dan Osborn could be poised to shake up U.S. Senate.
Independent Shakes Up Nebraska Senate Race
“A seemingly non-competitive Senate race in deeply Republican Nebraska is no longer a safe bet for two-term incumbent Sen. Deb Fischer — the dynamics jolted by the late-stage insurgence of independent Dan Osborn, who, if successful, could be the deciding factor on which party has control of the chamber, where Democrats currently hold a razor-thin 51-49 majority,” ABC News reports.
Said Osborn: “I hate to call it like I’m trying to call a Nebraska football game, but I would say I’m gonna win pretty substantially. People are ready for a change. People are sick of the status quo.”
Nebraska Senate Race Is Close
A new SurveyUSA poll in Nebraska finds Dan Osborne (I) leading Sen. Deb Fischer (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 45% to 44%.
Nebraska’s Senate Race Appears Close
A new SurveyUSA poll in Nebraska finds Sen. Deb Fischer (R) barely ahead of Dan Osborn (I) in the U.S. Senate race, 39% to 38%.
A YouGov poll released earlier in August showed a 2-point lead for incumbent Fischer, while an Impact Research poll taken the month prior showed a tied race.
Also of note: Kamala Harris leads Donald Trump in Nebraska’s second congressional district, 47% to 42%.
Pete Ricketts May Have Primary Challenger
Former Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster (R) is considering challenging Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) in 2024, The Dispatch reports.
“The news comes roughly two weeks after former two-term Gov. Ricketts—appointed by his successor Jim Pillen to fill former Sen. Ben Sasse’s seat—was sworn into office January 23.”
Pete Ricketts Sworn In as Nebraska Senator
Former Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) was sworn in as the newest member of the U.S. Senate on Monday, replacing Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) as the Senate returns from several weeks of recess to begin a new session of closely-divided government, the AP reports.
Pete Ricketts Appointed to Fill Senate Vacancy
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) confirmed widespread expectations Thursday when he announced former Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) is his pick to fill Nebraska’s vacancy in the U.S. Senate, the Omaha World-Herald reports.
Ricketts will replace Sen. Ben Sasse (R), who officially resigned Sunday to become the next president of the University of Florida. Ricketts’ appointment will take effect immediately.
Nebraskans Jockey for Sasse Seat
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) “isn’t going to appoint himself to the Senate when Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) leaves for his new gig in Florida. But when his term as governor is up in January, he’s not opposed to being appointed by the next guy,” Politico reports.
“Unlike a handful of other governors who have passed on opportunities to make the jump to the Senate, Rickets spoke fondly of the upper chamber.”
Does Pete Ricketts Want to Be a Senator?
Omaha World Herald: “With Republican U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse seemingly ready to accept a big job in academia and resign his seat, one big question swirled through Nebraska politics Thursday.”
“Does Gov. Pete Ricketts want Sasse’s job?”
“And that fundamental question in turn leads to others: If so, would he consider appointing himself to the Senate?”
Nebraska Democrats Abandon Their Senate Candidate
Nebraska Democrats are asking their U.S. Senate candidate, Chris Janicek (D), to quit the race after he sent staffers text messages that the state party described as “sexually inappropriate,” the Omaha World-Herald reports.
Janicek’s texts described lining up multiple partners for group sex with a female staffer and suggested the “three guys” could be paid.
Janicek has since apologized but said he’s staying in the race.
Sasse Kicks Off Re-Election Bid
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) kicked off his reelection bid Monday and “struck a tone similar to that of his first election bid, juxtaposing folksy stories with sweeping proclamations about the nature of liberty and the philosophical underpinnings of American government,” the Omaha World Herald reports.
Said Sasse: “America is an experiment. America is an idea. What we said in 2014 is just as true now.”
He also added some new themes, saying the 2020 elections are “a choice between civics and socialism.”
Sasse Expected to Run for Re-Election
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) “is expected to run for reelection next year and is likely to announce his campaign this summer,” Politico reports.
“While no final decision has been made and the Nebraska Republican still has to discuss the matter with his family, Republicans believe Sasse has every intention of running for his seat despite intense speculation to the contrary.”
Sasse May Face Primary Challenge
“Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), a frequent critic of President Trump who said he could not support him during the 2016 cycle, is at risk of a significant primary challenge in 2020,” The Hill reports.
“A Nebraska Republican official told The Hill there are Republicans interested in running for Sasse’s seat, while a senior Republican aide predicted that Sasse will see a primary challenge.”
The Wasted Mind of Ben Sasse
Slate: “Many politicians are hypocrites, of course. But most of them are also phonies and bullshitters. Ben Sasse isn’t. He stands out by educating himself earnestly and speaking honestly about complicated matters of history and policy… Unfortunately, he is also beginning to stand out by doing nothing of substance as the things he says he believes in are thrown in a garbage can by his own party.”
