# Dan Osborn

Dan Osborn (born March 29, 1975) is a U.S. Navy veteran, industrial mechanic, former labor union leader and independent politician.
Osborn served in the Nebraska Army National Guard before working at Kellogg's Omaha plant. He eventually became president of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50G and led the strike at Kellogg's Omaha plant in 2021.
Osborn ran as an independent candidate in the regular 2024 United States Senate election in Nebraska. He drew attention for his unorthodox platform and the unusually high support for an independent in what is traditionally a strongly Republican or red state. Osborn's performance was the best ever for an independent candidate in a Nebraska Senate race.

## Early life

Dan Osborn was born on March 29, 1975. His mother was a seamstress, and his father, Gary, worked for Union Pacific Railroad, loading cargo; after retiring, he also served as a Republican Dodge County Commissioner.
When Osborn was seven, his family moved to Omaha after his father was transferred with Union Pacific. After an accident, Osborn's father was moved to the railroad company's management side and transferred out of state. Osborn stayed in Omaha to finish high school and lived on his own starting at age 16, paying rent with odd jobs. He graduated from Roncalli Catholic High School in 1994.

## Military career

After high school, Osborn enlisted in the United States Navy. He served four years as a storekeeper aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64), completing two Western Pacific cruises and two Exercise RIMPAC cruises.
Osborn later joined the Nebraska Army National Guard. He attended the 19K Tanker school at the Idaho Army National Guard and served in the Tennessee National Guard.

## Union leader

In 2004, Osborn began working as an industrial mechanic at the Kellogg's Omaha plant, fixing the factory's machines. He eventually became president of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50G. He rose to national prominence when he led the 2021 Kellogg's strike at the plant. The strike, which was prompted by a two-tier system of pay, and included other plants across the country, lasted 77 days.
Kellogg's later fired Osborn. He turned to boiler maintenance and repair work at Boys Town and became a member of Steamfitters and Plumbers Local 464.

## 2024 U.S. Senate candidacy

Both incumbent Republican U.S. Senators from Nebraska ran for reelection in 2024, one in a special election and the other in a regular election. Osborn ran as an independent in the latter race against the incumbent, Deb Fischer, who had no Democratic challenger. Osborn said he can represent working and middle-class constituencies better than wealthy, establishment politicians.
Osborn officially announced his candidacy as an independent candidate on October 5, 2023. By March 2024, he had collected 4,000 signatures from Nebraska voters, enough to be eligible for the November 2024 ballot. In August he submitted more than 12,000, guaranteeing his place on the ballot.
Osborn has been registered as nonpartisan since registering to vote in 2004. Although Democrats chose not to run a candidate in the Senate election, Osborn declined their endorsement. The state Democratic Party considered running a write-in candidate, accusing Osborn of misleading them about his intentions, but Osborn said he had always been clear that he would not accept endorsements from any political party. Osborn wanted to form an independent caucus in the Senate rather than caucus with either party. He has called the current system a "two-party doom loop". The Reform Party of the United States endorsed him in September 2024. Senate Democrats have not engaged with or helped Osborn's campaign.
Osborn raised more campaign funds, mostly small-dollar donations, than any independent candidate in Nebraska's history. The last independent to win a Senate seat in Nebraska was progressive George Norris in 1936.
Asked about his prospects in the race by the New York Times, Osborn said: "I've gone up against a major American corporation. I stood up for what I thought was right, and I won." Of the major candidates in the 2024 United States presidential election he said (before Joe Biden withdrew): "I think they're both too old. I think they're both incompetent. There's a good chance I won't vote for president." He later said he does intend to vote for one of the two major-party candidates.
The race between Osborn and Fischer was unusually competitive for Nebraska, which traditionally is a safe Republican Senate seat, and potentially important in determining partisan control of the Senate. In an August 2024 SurveyUSA poll sponsored by Split Ticket, Fischer held a narrow lead of 39% to 38% over Osborn, within the margin of error, while 23% of voters were undecided. The poll led the Nebraska Examiner to call the election a tight race. The Cook Political Report's Senate and governor's editor said: "This is probably the most surprising race of the cycle. [Osborn] is such a different type of politician. He's a blue-collar worker—a mechanic. I think Fischer is a lower-profile senator who isn't as well known." Various polls showed both of them leading and the race extremely tight. An October 28 New York Times/Siena College poll showed Osborn two points behind Fischer, well within the margin of error. Fischer won the election, by 62,631 votes.
Osborn's campaign platform was considered unorthodox and populist, taking broadly left-wing stances on economic issues while taking some conservative stances on social issues due to Nebraska being a red state. It focused on protecting small businesses, family farmers, and workers.
His policy positions included raising the national minimum wage; lowering the tax rate for small businesses and overtime work; increasing border security and building the Mexico–United States border wall to reduce illegal immigration; reforming the immigration system and exploring ways to legalize some long-term undocumented workers; legalizing and taxing marijuana; improving railroad safety; guaranteeing access to abortion within the limits set by Roe v. Wade; facilitating union organizing; and protecting gun rights. Osborn supports a "libertarian approach" to hot-button issues and said that government should be kept out of private lives. He supports the right-to-repair of consumer goods such as cars and electronics and supports moving the full retirement age for Social Security benefits back to 65.
Politico reported that the Democrats, after their losses in the 2024 elections, are studying Osborn's unusually competitive campaign, especially in a deep red state, as they rebuild their party and its image.

## Personal life

Osborn lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with his wife, Megan; they have three children. He is Catholic.