Sen. Deb Fischer, Dan Osborn face off in Nebraska Senate race

Two-term Republican Sen. Deb Fischer is defending her Senate spot successful a title that's grown unexpectedly competitory successful Nebraska, a reliably reddish state, pinch polls indicating a tight title against independent campaigner Dan Osborn successful nan lead-up to Election Day. 

Osborn is simply a 49-year-old governmental newcomer, a Navy veteran, mechanic and national leader who led nan onslaught astatine Omaha's Kellogg works successful 2021. His run received a surge of extracurricular backing that forced Republicans to redouble their efforts successful a title that was thought to beryllium an easy win. Osborn billed his situation against Fischer arsenic offering a alteration to nan position quo, coating his force arsenic an constitution leader controlled by firm interests. He has pledged not to caucus pinch either Democrats aliases Republicans successful nan Senate if elected. 

During her clip successful nan Senate, Fischer, 73, has served connected nan powerful equipped services and appropriations committees. She has a inheritance arsenic a cattle rancher and has seen easy victories successful 2 erstwhile contests against Democratic opponents. This cycle, she has described her independent challenger arsenic a "Democrat successful disguise" successful nan last weeks of nan campaign, while leaning connected an endorsement from erstwhile President Donald Trump. 

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska) and independent campaigner Dan Osborn. Getty Images

Osborn has expressed positions mostly shared by moderates, including guidance to nationalist abortion restrictions, support for "reasonable weapon information measures" and stronger separator security, while leaning into a populist message. In a caller ad, he likened his Republican force to Hillary Clinton, while highlighting areas wherever he is "with Trump" — connected China, nan separator and "draining nan swamp."

Senate bids from independent candidates nether akin conditions successful reddish states person antecedently fallen short, for illustration successful Utah successful 2022 and Alaska successful 2020. Nebraska is simply a solidly reddish state, pinch astir doubly arsenic galore registered Republicans arsenic Democrats. But it's besides location to a ample stock of nonpartisan voters. And without a Democrat successful nan title to tie nan party's votes, nan title appeared to beryllium wrong striking region for Osborn heading into Election Day. 

The result of nan title has implications for nan constitution of nan Senate. Democrats were  fighting to bent onto their constrictive 51-49 majority, pinch fewer opportunities for pickups and a agelong database of states to defend.

In:
• United States Senate
• Nebraska
• 2024 Elections