Democrat moves to drop out of Nebraska’s Senate race, clearing the path for an independent

2026 ElectionDemocrat moves to drop out of Nebraska’s Senate race, clearing the path for an independentBurbank’s attempt to drop out of the race would leave Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts in a one-on-one matchup with independent Dan Osborn.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Cindy Burbank.Cindy Burbank for U.S. SenateShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 17, 2026, 4:27 PM EDTBy Ben Kamisar and Bridget BowmanNebraska Democratic Senate nominee Cindy Burbank has submitted a letter requesting her name be removed from the ballot, a move that would set up a one-on-one matchup between Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts and independent challenger Dan Osborn. Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Rani Taborek-Potter, a spokesperson with Secretary of State Bob Evnen’s office, confirmed to NBC News that the office received Burbank’s letter. Taborek-Potter added that the secretary of state will be sending a letter to the state attorney general to ask whether to honor Burbank’s request. The Nebraska Examiner first reported the news. “My candidacy for Senate was a privilege I’ll never forget,” Burbank said in a video sent via text message, later adding, “You deserve representation that works for you. I’ve looked at the numbers. I won’t be your next senator. So I have withdrawn my bid for US Senate.”Burbank did not endorse Osborn in her message, instead urging her voters to “educate yourselves about the remaining candidates.”The Democrat had repeatedly stressed she would consider dropping out and endorsing Osborn if she didn’t think she had a path to victory. Burbank’s website included language arguing that Osborn “deserves a fair shot against Ricketts,” and she told NBC News shortly before winning the Democratic nomination in May, “I will drop out when and if the time comes that I cannot win in November. And I think anybody with any dignity should do that.” She had denied she was solely running to set up a one-on-on...