In the 2026 midterms, Sen. Pete Ricketts (R., Neb.) is poised to face both a Democratic opponent and an independent opponent who is heavily funded by national Democrats — who is now under increased scrutiny for his campaign finance reports.
According to Dan Osborn’s latest disclosures with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which were reviewed by the Washington Reporter, the independent’s Senate campaign has sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to his family members and to political consulting firms connected directly to far-left Democrats like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — an avowed Democratic Socialist.
Osborn’s latest FEC report shows that he tried to conceal payments to his wife’s consulting firm, Independent Campaigns; despite her firm’s name, the Reporter previously covered how Megan Osborn’s firm worked with far-left Democrats like Nathan Sage in Iowa’s open Senate race. This comes as Osborn was already under fire for funneling almost half a million dollars in campaign and PAC dollars to his family and extended family.
The filings show that Osborn’s brother-in-law, who previously served as treasurer of his campaign committee, did not disclose debt owed to Megan Osborn’s Democrat consulting firm; the buried debt only surfaced after James Vihstadt, a veteran Democratic operative, departed as treasurer and the Federal Election Commission stepped in, sending a letter to Osborn’s campaign demanding transparency about its debts.
Republicans are eager to use Osborn’s campaign finance irregularities against him in his latest campaign for office; in 2024, Democrats cleared the way for Osborn to take on Sen. Deb Fischer (R., Neb.), only for him to come up short.
“Dan Osborn’s fake campaign is nothing more than a cash cow that’s funneled at least half a million dollars to himself and his family,” Nick Puglia, the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s (NRSC) Regional Press Secretary, told the Reporter. “Osborn trying to cover up his massive grift is just more evidence that Nebraskans cannot trust him.”
While Osborn is again running as an independent, Republicans have noted for years that he is closely tied to the Democratic Party and to some of its most politically unpopular leaders, especially in a state as conservative as Nebraska. Fight Agency, which helped recruit Osborn in 2024, works with Mamdani and other far-left candidates, like Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan; several of the most progressive lawmakers in Congress, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D., Md.) have also endorsed Osborn in the past.
Osborn’s campaign did not respond to request for comment on the payments he sent to his family members.
