Progressive Democrat Ro Khanna to Campaign in Nebraska with Independent Senate Candidate Dan Osborn
Independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn, who has pledged not to caucus with either major party if elected to represent Nebraska, is set to hit the campaign trail alongside progressive Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California. Khanna marks the first elected official to actively campaign alongside Osborn, who is mounting a challenge against incumbent Senator Pete Ricketts, a former Nebraska governor.
Nebraska currently lacks any Democrats in its congressional delegation, establishing it as the most heavily Republican state where Khanna has campaigned during the current electoral cycle. Khanna has maintained an active travel schedule supporting candidates in battleground races across states like Iowa and Michigan. Acknowledging the potential political friction of a progressive California lawmaker appearing in a ruby-red state, Khanna noted that the campaign specifically requested his presence rather than a quieter form of support such as fundraising emails.
At the upcoming town hall event, Khanna will appear alongside an unusual bipartisan panel of speakers, including former Montana Governor and Republican National Committee Chairman Marc Racicot and former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh. Both figures are notable critics of Donald Trump. Racicot faced censure from the Montana Republican Party after opposing Trump and other GOP candidates, while Walsh supported Trump in 2016 before launching a primary challenge against him in 2020 and later registering as a Democrat in 2025.
According to Osborn, the coalition was initially brought together by concerns surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case. In a statement, Osborn emphasized that the diverse panel represents differing viewpoints while sharing a common critique of Washington politics. He argued that the political establishment is compromised by wealthy interests, characterizing his opponent as representative of a class of billionaires prioritizing profit over ordinary citizens.
Osborn’s campaign has frequently invoked themes of economic populism and corporate accountability, a message reinforced by his engagement with survivors when the Epstein Bookmobile visited Omaha in September. For his part, Khanna has been a prominent advocate for government transparency regarding the Epstein files, having pushed for the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act alongside Republican Representative Thomas Massie.
Khanna argued that public frustration regarding government transparency and handling of the Epstein records reflects broader voter alienation and a growing perception of a rigged economic system. He pointed to polling data indicating that these accountability concerns resonate strongly with voters who feel a sense of political betrayal.
The Nebraska contest forms part of a broader campaign swing for Khanna, who recently traveled to Michigan to support congressional candidate William Lawrence against Republican incumbent Tom Barrett in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, alongside events for Democratic candidates Josh Turek in Iowa and Chris Pappas in New Hampshire.
Independent election forecasters have adjusted their outlooks as the campaign enters its final weeks. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates the races involving Lawrence and Turek as competitive toss-ups, while shifting its rating for New Hampshire from Lean Democratic to Likely Democratic, and moving Nebraska’s Senate race from Likely Republican to Leans Republican.
