Dan Osborne, Courtesy
OMAHA — Dan Osborne is running as an Independent for U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican Deb Fischer.
Osborn officially announced his candidacy as an independent candidate on Oct. 5, 2023. He submitted more than 12,000 signatures which guaranteed his spot on the general election ballot.
Osborn has been registered as nonpartisan since registering to vote in 2004. While the Democrats chose not to run a candidate in the Senate election, Osborn has declined their endorsement.
The last independent to win a Senate seat in Nebraska was progressive George Norris in 1936.
Osborn lives in Omaha, with his wife, Megan and the couple have three children.
Osborne enlisted in the United States Navy after high school and served for four years onboard the USS Consetellation aircraft carrier.
Osborn later joined the Nebraska Army National Guard.
In 2004, Osborne began working as an industrial mechanic at Kellog’s Omaha plant. He eventually became president of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50G.
He gained national attention when he helped lead the 2021 Kellogg’s strike at the plant. The strike lasted 77 days and included other plants across the country.
“That really opened my eyes to the fact of the way our world is run, and our politicians have corporate agendas and not worker agendas,” Osborne said, “I’m trying to change that.”
Questioned about his experience that would prepare him for the U.S. Senate, Osborne said being in the union leadership role, dealing with the corporate executives and the workers, was “tough waters” to navigate, but instructive.
Osborne said he will bring a blue-collar attitude to the Senate, which he feels has turned into, “a country club of millionaires that work for billionaires.”
For that reason, Osborne said he is not taking corporate money so he is not beholden to them and can act freely.
When asked why he is running as an Independent, Osborne said he reflects on George Washington and the other Founding Fathers warning of what political factions could do to the country.
“Now we are seeing the apex of that,” Osborne said.
Osborne said there are things he likes about both sides, but he doesn’t feel people should be beholden to the dogma of each party. “There is room to move down the middle.”
When asked about the most pressing issues affecting Nebraskans, Osborne said at all of his events, people have voiced concerns about the economy, inflation, wasteful government spending – which he says both parties are guilty of and the southern border with Mexico.
When asked how these should be addressed, Osborne alluded to the government spending and said the Department of Defense has never passed a federal audit, and says they need to be held accountable.
Osborne said the budget shouldn’t be cut, but they need to be held accountable to the budget that is set.
Going over all the other government agencies spending with a “fine tooth comb,” is another move Osborne advocates.
Inflation is one of the factors that affects many American families and Osborne said corporations need to be held accountable for price gouging and “shrinkflation,” the selling of a downsized product for the same price.
Osborne illustrated his point by saying that he can go to most Nebraskan towns and see the local stores boarded up and closed, but there is a Dollar General at the edge of town.
“We need to have a level playing field,” Osborne said, alluding to local businesses and corporations.
When asked what would guide his decision making, Osborne said, “I would be able to not be beholden to corporate interest or a party boss…I want to work for the people of Nebraska.”
He said right now the government prioritizes those who already have wealth.
In conclusion, Osborne said he feels his campaign has accomplished something noteworthy. He said he has seen his campaign signs next to Trump and Harris signs, even at a time of high political polarization.
“At the end of the day we have brought people together, we have brought neighbors together,” Osborne said.
Editor’s Note: Dan Osborne was interviewed on 1340 KGFW and information from that was taken for this article. To listen to the full interview please click here.
