Nebraska Democratic Senate Primary Results

In an unexpected turn during the Nebraska Democratic Senate primary, Cindy Burbank emerged victorious with a staggering 89% of the votes against her opponent, William Forbes. Notably, Burbank has indicated plans to exit the race before November’s general election, aiming to support another candidate who can take on the incumbent Republican, Sen. Pete Ricketts, in this traditionally conservative state.

Burbank’s campaign has centered around claims that Ricketts is attempting to manipulate the primary by backing Forbes, described as an anti-abortion activist, to dilute the Democratic vote. Her comments included, “I don’t expect to win in November,” suggesting a strategic retreat to enhance odds for Dan Osborn, an independent candidate viewed favorably by Burbank.

She accused Ricketts of orchestrating a “cheat” to secure his re-election against Osborne, asserting he “deserves a fair shot” in the upcoming election. This narrative was echoed by the Nebraska Democratic Party, which initially considered forgoing a contender in the primary but decided to step in. Forbes has described Ricketts as a “spoiler,” while presenting himself as a lifelong Democrat, dismissing Burbank as merely a placeholder in the party competition.

Meanwhile, Ricketts secured approximately 82% of the votes in the Republican primary. Public sentiment seems to lean slightly towards Osborne in a hypothetical match-up against Ricketts. Survey results indicated that 47% of respondents would favor Osborne, while 42% supported Ricketts. However, Ricketts held a lead over Burbank, capturing 48% to her 39% in their direct contest.