Democrats take Senate majority as Ricketts holds Nebraska seat for GOP

Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts has held Nebraska's Senate seat for the GOP, one of the few bright spots for Republicans as Democrats take the Senate majority ¹.

The Nebraska result stands out on a night when Democrats wrested control of the Senate, with victories in states including Texas, Kansas and South Carolina ². For Republicans, holding Nebraska is a rare piece of good news as the party absorbs losses elsewhere.

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A costly race in a state Trump won big

The Nebraska contest was not supposed to be close. Donald Trump won the state by 20 points in 2024, and Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska won his special election that year by 25 points ¹. But this year, Republican Senate bids in traditionally red states became competitive amid Trump's sinking approval ratings, with voters frustrated by high costs and the war with Iran ¹.

High diesel prices due to the war with Iran and Trump's sweeping tariffs also hit farmers in heartland states, including Nebraska ¹. At a rally in Nebraska in early October, Trump signed an executive order expanding access to diesel used in farming, known as "red dye" diesel ¹.

From Channel GOPEl-Sayed: Medicaid cuts timed for after midtermsAbdul El-Sayed · 150 plays · captioned, with the source named

Osborn, a Navy veteran and former union organizer, supported Trump's move but described it as a "Band-Aid" ¹. He often highlighted Nebraskans' struggles with high costs, though he rarely directly criticized Trump by name in a state with plenty of his supporters ¹.

Osborn also leaned into voters' concerns about corruption, attacking Ricketts' wealth and accusing him of being beholden to big donors and corporations ¹. In a TV ad featuring men gathered in a smoke-filled room, Osborn said, "People like us are tired of people in rooms like this calling the shots" and "But Pocket Pete, he's right at home" ¹.

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Ricketts worked to remind voters that they elected him to statewide office in three separate elections, launching an ad focused on his time as governor ¹. In that ad, voters said, "Through fires and flooding, the ups and downs in agriculture, a global pandemic and every other challenge, Pete Ricketts has been there for Nebraska" ¹.

What happens next

Ricketts' win in Nebraska gives Republicans a handful of Senate seats to point to as Democrats prepare to take the majority ¹². The Senate majority will give Democrats leverage over Trump's final two years, while Republicans will be working from the minority.

That matters because control of the Senate shapes which bills reach the floor, which nominations advance and how much power the president's party has to set the agenda. For voters, the practical effect is that the chamber's direction now runs through Democratic leaders rather than Republican ones.

The Record

1. Nov 5, 2024Donald Trump won Nebraska by 20 points in 2024, and Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska won his special election that year by 25 points ¹.
2. Oct 1, 2026At a rally in Nebraska in early October, Trump signed an executive order expanding access to diesel used in farming, known as "red dye" diesel ¹.
3. Nov 3, 2026Democrats wrested control of the Senate on Tuesday with victories in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina ².
4. Nov 4, 2026Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts held Nebraska's Senate seat for the GOP, one of the few bright spots for Republicans as Democrats take the Senate majority ¹.

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<h2>Democrats take Senate majority as Ricketts holds Nebraska seat for GOP</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/democrats-take-senate-majority-as-ricketts-holds-nebraska-seat-for-gop">The GOP Files</a> on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.</em></p> <p>Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts has held Nebraska&#39;s Senate seat for the GOP, one of the few bright spots for Republicans as Democrats take the Senate majority .</p> <p>The Nebraska result stands out on a night when Democrats wrested control of the Senate, with victories in states including Texas, Kansas and South Carolina . For Republicans, holding Nebraska is a rare piece of good news as the party absorbs losses elsewhere.</p> <h2>A costly race in a state Trump won big</h2> <p>The Nebraska contest was not supposed to be close. Donald Trump won the state by 20 points in 2024, and Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska won his special election that year by 25 points . But this year, Republican Senate bids in traditionally red states became competitive amid Trump&#39;s sinking approval ratings, with voters frustrated by high costs and the war with Iran .</p> <p>High diesel prices due to the war with Iran and Trump&#39;s sweeping tariffs also hit farmers in heartland states, including Nebraska . At a rally in Nebraska in early October, Trump signed an executive order expanding access to diesel used in farming, known as &quot;red dye&quot; diesel .</p> <p>Osborn, a Navy veteran and former union organizer, supported Trump&#39;s move but described it as a &quot;Band-Aid&quot; . He often highlighted Nebraskans&#39; struggles with high costs, though he rarely directly criticized Trump by name in a state with plenty of his supporters .</p> <p>Osborn also leaned into voters&#39; concerns about corruption, attacking Ricketts&#39; wealth and accusing him of being beholden to big donors and corporations . In a TV ad featuring men gathered in a smoke-filled room, Osborn said, &quot;People like us are tired of people in rooms like this calling the shots&quot; and &quot;But Pocket Pete, he&#39;s right at home&quot; .</p> <p>Ricketts worked to remind voters that they elected him to statewide office in three separate elections, launching an ad focused on his time as governor . In that ad, voters said, &quot;Through fires and flooding, the ups and downs in agriculture, a global pandemic and every other challenge, Pete Ricketts has been there for Nebraska&quot; .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Ricketts&#39; win in Nebraska gives Republicans a handful of Senate seats to point to as Democrats prepare to take the majority . The Senate majority will give Democrats leverage over Trump&#39;s final two years, while Republicans will be working from the minority.</p> <p>That matters because control of the Senate shapes which bills reach the floor, which nominations advance and how much power the president&#39;s party has to set the agenda. For voters, the practical effect is that the chamber&#39;s direction now runs through Democratic leaders rather than Republican ones.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/democrats-take-senate-majority-as-ricketts-holds-nebraska-seat-for-gop">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/democrats-take-senate-majority-as-ricketts-holds-nebraska-seat-for-gop.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. NBC News, “GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts fends off independent Dan Osborn in Nebraska Senate race” (2026-11-04). nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/pete-ricketts-nebraska-se
2. The Guardian, “Progressive Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race to become first Muslim US senator” (2026-11-04). theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/03/abdul-el-sayed-mike-roge
3. CBS News, “Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race, CBS News projects” (2026-11-04). cbsnews.com/news/michigan-2026-senate-el-sayed-rogers/

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