Dan Osborn and Republican Sen.
Pete Ricketts remained in an unresolved Nebraska Senate contest early Wednesday, with the state reporting only a small portion of the vote from the November 3, 2026, election.
The Nebraska Secretary of State’s unofficial results page showed the count was last updated at 8:25 p.m. Central Time on November 3.
At that point, 15 of the state’s 1,322 precincts were fully reporting and 40 were partially reporting, representing 1.13 per cent of precincts.
The early figures were therefore not sufficient to determine a winner.
The state had recorded 205,189 ballots at the time of the update, with statewide turnout listed at 16.22 per cent.
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Dan Osborn: What the early count shows
Dan Osborn, an independent candidate, is challenging Ricketts, the Republican incumbent.
Three other candidates are also on the ballot: Chuck Conboy of the America First Party, Mike Marvin of the Legal Marijuana Now Party and Robin Richards of the Nebraska Working People Party.
The first reported returns came from a limited number of counties and precincts.
That makes the early statewide picture particularly difficult to interpret, especially before larger population centres and additional mail and early ballots are included.
Nebraska’s official results remain unofficial until election officials complete canvassing and certification.
The state’s election website directs readers to the statewide results page for continuing updates.
Why the race matters
The Nebraska contest attracted national attention because Osborn is mounting an independent challenge in a state that has generally favoured Republican candidates in federal elections.
Osborn, a former union leader and Navy veteran, previously ran as an independent in Nebraska’s 2024 Senate election.
He lost that contest to Republican Deb Fischer but received enough support to make the race substantially closer than many observers expected.
In 2026, Nebraska Democrats did not have a candidate competing against Ricketts in the general election after their nominee withdrew.
The state Democratic Party endorsed Osborn, while Osborn continued to present himself as independent rather than as a Democratic candidate.
Ricketts, a former Nebraska governor, entered the race as the sitting senator.
He was appointed to the Senate in 2023 after Ben Sasse resigned and later won a special election to complete the term.
What happens next
Election officials will continue adding results as counties report additional precincts, advance ballots and other legally tabulated votes.
A projected winner may be identified before every ballot is formally certified, but the state’s official canvass remains the controlling process.
For now, there is no verified basis to report that Osborn or Ricketts has won the seat.
The available official update reflects an early count rather than a final result.
Readers following the race should check the Nebraska Secretary of State’s results page for the latest posted totals and reporting figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is running in the 2026 Nebraska Senate election?
The candidates include Republican incumbent Pete Ricketts, independent Dan Osborn, Chuck Conboy, Mike Marvin and Robin Richards.
Has Dan Osborn won the Nebraska Senate race?
No winner had been verified at the latest official update cited in this report. Only 1.13 per cent of precincts were fully reporting.
When was the latest Nebraska results update?
The Nebraska Secretary of State’s results page showed an update at 8:25 p.m. Central Time on November 3, 2026.
Why are early Nebraska election results incomplete?
Election-night figures arrive in stages as counties report precincts, advance ballots and other counted votes. Early totals can change substantially as more areas report.
Where can I check the official Nebraska Senate results?
The official results are posted by the Nebraska Secretary of State through its statewide election-results website.
Fact-Checked: Key race details, reporting figures and election procedures were checked against the Nebraska Secretary of State’s official election information and results pages.
Disclaimer: Election-night totals are unofficial and may change as Nebraska counties report additional ballots and complete the certification process.