Dan Osborn

Dan Osborn is an industrial mechanic and union leader from Omaha running as an independent (ballot line "Nonpartisan") for the second consecutive Senate cycle. A Navy and Nebraska Army National Guard veteran who led the 2021 Kellogg's strike, he lost to Sen. Deb Fischer in 2024. His campaign centers on congressional ethics reform, consumer-protection and antitrust measures, and opposition to cuts in Social Security and Medicare.[1][2][3][4]

Osborn was born on March 29, 1975, and his family moved to Omaha when he was seven.[4] He graduated from Roncalli Catholic High School in 1994 and lives in Omaha, Nebraska.[4] He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after high school and served four years as a storekeeper aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64), and he later served in the Nebraska Army National Guard.[1][2][4]

In 2004 he began work as an industrial mechanic at Kellogg's plant in Omaha, where he became president of Local 50G of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union.[1][3][4] He led the 2021 Kellogg's strike, which was prompted by a two-tier pay system and lasted 77 days.[4] He later worked in boiler maintenance and repair at Boys Town and joined Steamfitters and Plumbers Local 464.[4]

Osborn announced an independent campaign for the U.S. Senate on October 5, 2023, and lost to incumbent Sen. Deb Fischer (R), 53.2% to 46.5%.[1][3][4] He has been registered as nonpartisan since 2004.[4] In 2026 he is again running without a party label, this time against Sen. Pete Ricketts, and he submitted about 12,500 signatures on June 11, 2026, to qualify for the ballot.[1][3][4] The Nebraska Democratic Party endorsed him, and he has said he will not caucus with either party if elected.[1][3][4]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.