Republican U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts and independent challenger Dan Osborn clashed over tariffs, the war with Iran, immigration enforcement and the influence of money in politics during an hourlong debate Tuesday at the Nebraska State Fair.
The event at the BigIron Events Center marked the first time Ricketts and Osborn had debated face-to-face. It was also the first U.S. Senate debate held at the State Fair since 2018.
The candidates offered sharply different arguments about who would best represent Nebraska in Washington. Ricketts emphasized his record as governor and senator while repeatedly seeking to tie Osborn to the Democratic Party. Osborn presented himself as a working-class alternative to both major parties and argued that Washington is controlled by party leaders and wealthy donors.
Ricketts repeatedly referred to his opponent as “Democrat Dan,” alleging that Democratic donors, operatives and organizations were supporting Osborn because they expected him to help Democrats organize the Senate.
Osborn, who is registered as nonpartisan, joked that the organizers should have placed a third podium onstage for the “Democrat Dan” described by Ricketts.
Dan Osborn, Independent Candidate for U.S. Senate
Pete Ricketts, Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate
Can an independent be effective?
The candidates sharply disagreed over Osborn’s pledge not to caucus with either major party.
Ricketts called that position “foolishness,” arguing that senators gain committee assignments, negotiating power and other influence through their party caucuses. He predicted Osborn would eventually join the Democratic caucus and help Democrats control the chamber.
Osborn maintained that he could develop alliances without formally joining either side.
“I don’t need to caucus with either party,” Osborn said. “Nobody’s got a monopoly on a good idea.”
He said he would work with Republicans and Democrats while remaining accountable to Nebraska voters rather than party leadership.
Tariffs and consumer prices
Both candidates acknowledged that tariffs can increase costs, but they differed over how broadly the policy should be used.
Ricketts said some American allies impose higher tariffs on U.S. products than the United States places on theirs. He argued that tariffs can be used to level the playing field and protect Nebraska agriculture and businesses.
“They have high tariffs on our products. We have low tariffs on theirs, and it’s not fair,” Ricketts said.
Osborn supported targeted tariffs, citing protection for the American automotive industry. However, he said the Trump administration’s blanket tariff policies were increasing the cost of building materials and making homeownership more difficult.
Osborn said a domestically manufactured water heater now costs hundreds of dollars more than before the current tariff fight. He called tariffs a tax on consumers and said Congress should reclaim control of tariff policy.
The candidates also debated inflation and the broader cost of living. Osborn linked high prices to federal debt, health-care costs, energy costs and tariffs. Ricketts blamed policies enacted during the Biden administration and said Republican tax and prescription-drug policies were beginning to provide relief.
Iran war divides candidates
Ricketts and Osborn agreed that Iran must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. They disagreed over whether the current U.S. military campaign is justified and who should have authorized it.
Ricketts said the Iranian government presents a direct threat to the United States and its allies. He supported continued pressure through sanctions, restrictions on Iranian ports and efforts to protect energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
“A country that chants ‘death to America’ cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon,” Ricketts said.
Osborn, a Navy veteran who served aboard an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, said military deterrence is necessary but argued that the conflict should not have begun without congressional authorization.
“We have to give Congress back the power to act as a co-equal branch of government, because only Congress can declare war,” Osborn said.
He said the war was costing American lives while increasing diesel, fertilizer and other operating expenses for Nebraska farmers.
Ricketts accused Osborn of favoring an “appeasement-first” approach. Osborn responded that requiring congressional authorization did not amount to undermining the president.
Agreement on additional beef imports
The candidates found unusual common ground when asked about President Trump’s 90-day tariff waiver covering up to 300,000 metric tons of imported ground beef.
Osborn called the decision “a colossal mistake” for cattle producers. He said additional imports could undercut ranchers already struggling with drought, herd reductions and industry consolidation.
Ricketts said he had warned Trump that the short-term measure would make it more difficult for ranchers to decide whether to retain heifers and expand their herds.
“Expanding the size of their herd is how we get, long-term, to lower prices for consumers and families,” Ricketts said.
Both candidates argued that rebuilding the domestic cattle herd is a better long-term response to high beef prices.
Social Security
Osborn proposed strengthening Social Security by increasing or modifying the income ceiling at which workers stop paying Social Security payroll taxes. He characterized the proposal as requiring higher earners to pay a fairer share.
Ricketts focused on his record of supporting state and federal tax reductions for retirees. He also accused Osborn of wanting to extend Social Security benefits to immigrants who had not paid into the system.
Osborn said Ricketts had misrepresented his position and that he had been discussing legal immigrant families who establish businesses and become part of American communities.
Neither candidate offered a complete package explaining how benefits and revenue would be balanced to resolve the program’s projected long-term financing gap.
Border security and ICE oversight
Osborn said the Biden administration failed to control the southern border and credited Trump with closing it. He supported ICE’s mission of removing violent criminals and people involved in fentanyl or human trafficking.
He nevertheless argued that Congress must oversee ICE’s tactics and funding and investigate deaths connected to enforcement operations.
Ricketts said he supports investigations when lives are lost but defended increased funding for border barriers and enforcement personnel. He pointed to his endorsement from the National Border Patrol Council and accused Osborn of making conflicting statements about immigration and law enforcement.
Medicaid and health care
The candidates also sparred over Medicaid provisions in the Republican tax and spending law.
Ricketts rejected the description of the legislation as a Medicaid cut, noting that overall federal spending on the program is still projected to increase. He said work and eligibility requirements would protect benefits for people who qualify while removing people who should not receive assistance.
Osborn said reductions in projected federal support would hurt rural health providers and people who depend on Medicaid. He cited the closure of a dialysis facility in Chadron as an example of the pressure facing rural health care.
Campaign financing
Money and campaign influence produced some of the evening’s most personal exchanges.
Osborn said unlimited expenditures by billionaires, corporations and organizations distort elections. He called for overturning the campaign-finance system created by the Supreme Court’s *Citizens United* decision and criticized Ricketts for putting millions of dollars into his own campaign.
Ricketts acknowledged financing his campaign but said voters know exactly where the money came from. He accused Osborn of benefiting from outside groups that do not disclose all their donors and emphasized the amount Osborn has raised outside Nebraska.
Osborn said his campaign has received tens of thousands of individual donations averaging about $40. He distinguished contributions made directly to his campaign from spending by independent political committees he does not control.
Data centers and Nebraska resources
The final policy exchange involved artificial intelligence and the rapid development of data centers.
Both candidates said the United States must compete with China in artificial intelligence, but they emphasized different safeguards.
Osborn said Nebraska utility customers should not face higher electric bills because billion-dollar corporations locate data centers in the state. He also called for restrictions in areas where the Ogallala Aquifer is under stress and said communities hosting the facilities should receive direct benefits.
Ricketts said local control should guide those decisions. He urged communities to negotiate agreements protecting electric rates, requiring water-conservation systems and securing tax payments or other community investments before projects are approved.
“This is a national security issue,” Ricketts said, arguing that excessive restrictions could weaken America’s competition with China.
Two competing closing arguments
Ricketts closed by presenting the election as a choice between his record and what he characterized as Osborn’s concealed Democratic loyalties. He described Osborn as too liberal for Nebraska and warned that his election could shift control of the Senate.
Osborn ended by arguing that partisan politics has divided neighbors and families. He asked voters to “shed our jerseys” and support an independent who would challenge both parties and the influence of wealthy donors.
The general election is November 3.
Osborn lost his 2024 challenge to Senator Deb Fischer by about seven percentage points. Ricketts served as Nebraska governor from 2015 until 2023, when he was appointed to the Senate; he subsequently won the 2024 special election.
News Channel Nebraska put on the debate and the replay is available on YouTube here