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Trump-Voting Pastor's Candidacy Splits Democrats in Nebraska Senate Race

Nebraska's U.S. Senate race has been disrupted by William Forbes, a Trump-supporting pastor running as a Democrat, which the state party claims is a Republican ploy to split votes. Democrats are backing independent Dan Osborn to challenge Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts, but Forbes' candidacy threatens that unity. Forbes denies being a plant, citing his Democratic voting history, though his conservative sermons and GOP event attendance raise doubts. Another Democrat, Cindy Burbank, filed to stop Forbes but faced legal battles over her ballot access. The May 12 primary could determine if the Democratic strategy succeeds or fails, impacting Senate control. Democrats need this seat to have a viable path to retaking the Senate in 2026.

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Trump-Voting Pastor's Candidacy Splits Democrats in Nebraska Senate Race

A 79-year-old Trump-supporting pastor's last-minute entry into the Democratic primary for Nebraska's U.S. Senate seat has thrown the state party's unconventional strategy into disarray, as they aim to back an independent candidate to unseat the Republican incumbent.

Background of the Race

Nebraska's Senate contest features incumbent Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts seeking re-election. The state Democratic Party, recognizing the challenge in a deep-red state, opted to skip the primary and endorse independent candidate Dan Osborn, a former Navy veteran and union leader, in hopes of consolidating anti-Ricketts votes.

The Unusual Candidates

  • William Forbes: A 79-year-old pastor from rural Nebraska who filed as a Democrat just before the deadline. He has voted for Donald Trump and holds anti-abortion views, conflicting with typical Democratic positions.
  • Cindy Burbank: Another Democratic primary candidate who filed at the last minute explicitly to oppose Forbes. She plans to support Osborn in the general election and drop out if nominated.
  • Dan Osborn: The independent candidate backed by Democrats, running on a populist platform blending labor support with some abortion rights and gun rights.
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Democratic Party's Strategy

  • The party decided not to field a candidate after Osborn's close 2024 loss to Sen. Deb Fischer, seeing him as a stronger contender.
  • They fear Forbes could split the Democratic-leaning vote, aiding Ricketts' re-election.
  • Nebraska Democratic Chair Jane Kleeb called Forbes a "Republican plant" designed to trick voters.

Forbes' Controversial Background

  • Forbes attended a leadership summit sponsored by the Nebraska Republican Party in January, run by the conservative Leadership Institute.
  • In sermons on his now-deleted Facebook page, he criticized "cultural Marxism," praised Republican governors for abortion restrictions, and referred to President Biden as "dementia Joe."
  • He claims to be a lifelong Democrat but cites John F. Kennedy as the last Democrat who represented his values, advocating for a return to 1950s-1960s morality.

Legal Challenges and Ballot Issues

  • Burbank's candidacy was initially removed by the Republican secretary of state for not being a "good-faith" candidate, but the Nebraska Supreme Court reinstated her after she sued.
  • The Democratic Party plans to spend money supporting Burbank to counter Forbes.
  • Forbes has minimal campaign infrastructure, with no active website or social media, and a campaign address listed as a UPS store.

Election Implications

  • The Democratic primary is scheduled for May 12.
  • If Forbes wins the primary, it could undermine the party's strategy and jeopardize their chances to flip the seat.
  • Control of the U.S. Senate is at stake, with Democrats needing to gain four seats in the 2026 elections.
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