Nebraska Dems Score Big: Candidate Drops Out to Boost Independent Hopeful

Nebraska Democrats just pulled off a masterstroke by nominating a candidate who’s already pledged to bow out of the U.S. Senate race—exactly what they were gunning for.

Cindy Burbank, a retired pharmacy technician, snagged a whopping 89% of the vote in the primary, as reported shortly after polls closed on Tuesday night. With the party’s backing, she’s set to step aside, paving the way for independent contender Dan Osborn.

Her rival, William Forbes, a pastor with a history of supporting Trump, was viewed as a GOP infiltrator aiming to siphon votes from Osborn and bolster incumbent Republican Senator Pete Ricketts.

Osborn, a union mechanic blending conservative social views with economic populism, has vowed to remain independent of party lines. He’s seen as Nebraska’s best shot at dethroning a Republican senator. With nearly $3.9 million in campaign funds, he only lost to another GOP senator, Deb Fischer, by 7 points, despite Trump dominating the state by 21 points.

A recent Democratic poll shows Osborn leading Ricketts 46% to 42%, with a tantalizing 12% of voters still undecided.

Republicans weren’t playing nice; they tried to secure the nomination for Forbes by attempting to boot Burbank off the ballot. However, the Nebraska Supreme Court stepped in, blocking their move and reinstating Burbank.