Trump voter won't back Ricketts

Marine Corps veteran Gunner Arellano voted for Donald Trump three times but says he will not vote for Sen. Pete Ricketts in November. He plans to vote for Dan Osborn instead.

Why Arellano is switching

Arellano, a thirty-five-year-old tobacconist, said Osborn, an independent backed by Nebraska's Democratic Party, is more for the people than Ricketts. He criticized Ricketts for not being present enough.

“All those politicians, they want to come around when it's election time, right? Come down on a Wednesday in the middle of your term, you know.”

Ricketts' wealth and record

Ricketts is a former two-term governor who ranks high on the list of wealthiest senators. He has won statewide races at the gubernatorial and Senate levels.

Democrats' broader hopes

Democrats hope to flip Nebraska's Senate seat and are even more optimistic about the Omaha-based second Congressional District, where Kamala Harris won in twenty twenty-four and Republican Don Bacon is retiring.

Osborn's twenty twenty-four performance

In twenty twenty-four, Osborn ran a competitive campaign against Sen. Deb Fischer, who won by a little more than six percentage points while Trump took the state by twenty points.

Why Nebraska is in play

Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to take control of the chamber next year. Nebraska has emerged at the edge of the small list of states that could be in play in November.

Trump's approval ratings falling

Republicans are facing into a national wind as Trump's approval ratings have cratered. There hasn't been much in the way of independent polling of the state.

Rural America's grievances

Amid the ongoing war with Iran, rising prices for gas and diesel fuel, and Trump tariff policies that have wreaked havoc on rural America, Democrats see a resurgence of prairie populism.

Republicans' spending advantage

Since September first, the Republican side has spent seven million dollars on the air, with another eight million booked before Election Day. Osborn and groups backing him have spent three point five million and reserved another one point five million.

Republicans concerned about seat

The money differential suggests Republicans are concerned about holding a seat that has been in their hands since nineteen ninety-seven, or at least committed to making sure they do not take victory for granted.

Club for Growth's confidence

David McIntosh, president of the Club for Growth backing Ricketts, said when Pete starts defining Osborn and outside groups come in to do that, it will go back to a safe red seat.

“I think you're going to see, when Pete starts defining him, and some of the outside groups come in to do that, then it's going to go back to a safe red seat for us.”

Democrats say money won't matter

Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, said she believes the money won't be dispositive because Republicans and Ricketts have worn out their welcome with voters.

“Basically, voters are saying, 'We're not buying what you're selling.' So it's not going to matter.”

Some Republicans considering Osborn

Chris Holder, a forty-five-year-old business analyst at Union Pacific Railroad, said he is considering voting for Osborn because he seems like a working man, union guy, and outsider grounded in Nebraska.

“Working man, union guy, seems grounded in the ways of Nebraska, an outsider.”

Health care costs drive voters

Sally Guest, a forty-eight-year-old registered nurse, and her husband Larry said they are eager to vote for Osborn. Ricketts voted for Trump-backed legislation that cut back on the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.

“Pete Ricketts is the millionaire class, and he's not served Nebraska well.”

House race in second district

Brinker Harding, an Omaha city councilman, is trying to hold the second Congressional District for Republicans. His opponent, Democrat Denise Powell, won a crowded primary earlier this year.

Democrats tie Harding to Trump

While Harding portrays Powell as too extreme for the district, she is tying him as tightly as she can to Trump. National Democrats say Harding bends the knee to Donald Trump.

“Nebraska voters want someone who will go to Congress and fight for them, not another party rubber stamp.”