Independent Nebraska Senate candidate Dan Osborn responded Wednesday after leaked audio surfaced, reportedly containing disparaging remarks about rural supporters of President Donald Trump. The recording, first brought to light by the Omaha World-Herald, captured a speaker describing a hypothetical Trump supporter in Red Cloud, Nebraska, as someone primarily interested in being on the “winning team.” The speaker in the audio later suggested that such voters’ lives “probably suck,” employing profanity during these comments.
"It sure sounds like me." Dan Osborn, Independent Nebraska Senate Candidate
Osborn, who is campaigning as an independent against incumbent Republican Senator Pete Ricketts in the upcoming November election, appeared on CNN’s “Inside Politics” following the public release of the recording. When host Dana Bash inquired if the voice on the recording was his, Osborn stated, “It sure sounds like me.”
Despite acknowledging his voice, Osborn denied that the comments reflected his broader view of President Trump's supporters. He emphasized that he has engaged with numerous President Trump voters throughout Nebraska during his campaign. Osborn clarified that the remarks were intended to describe the deep-seated frustration among voters who feel the political system has failed them. He further elaborated that President Trump has successfully garnered support from individuals angered by the political establishment by positioning himself as an outsider. Osborn also conceded that his specific wording could be perceived as disrespectful. “I don’t remember the context of this one particular conversation,” he told CNN, suggesting the comments sounded uncharacteristic for him. He committed to apologizing to anyone offended by the remarks, attributing the language in part to his own frustration with prevailing economic and political conditions.
The original recording reportedly included several profane references to a fictional rural voter, identified as “Billy Bob,” who lives near a President Trump store in Red Cloud and displays a President Trump flag. The speaker also mentioned the voter’s wife as “Mary Jane, or Mary Jo.”
Osborn is running as an independent and has publicly stated his intention not to caucus with either major party if elected. Notably, Nebraska Democrats are not fielding their own Senate nominee for this election cycle. The state party’s central committee voted in August not to fill a vacancy on its ballot line, a strategic decision party leaders made to support Osborn’s independent campaign. Osborn, a Navy veteran, former industrial mechanic, and union leader, previously contested a Senate seat in 2024 against Republican Senator Deb Fischer. Official Nebraska election results from that race showed Fischer receiving approximately 53% of the vote, with Osborn securing about 46.5%.
Following the audio's release, Senator Pete Ricketts criticized Osborn. Ricketts posted on X, stating, “Dan Osborn was caught making derogatory comments about rural Nebraskans in another leaked audio.” He further accused Osborn of demonstrating a lack of respect for the people living in Nebraska and affirmed his commitment to representing all Nebraskans across the state’s diverse regions.
In response to Ricketts and the broader fallout, Osborn reiterated to CNN that his remarks stemmed from a place of frustration over issues directly impacting Nebraska residents. These issues include escalating agricultural costs, precarious farm finances, and other pressing economic pressures. “We’re all angry right now,” Osborn stated, adding that individuals sometimes express themselves differently when under significant stress or frustration.
The incident injects a new dynamic into the Nebraska Senate race, potentially influencing voter perceptions of Osborn’s candidacy, particularly among the rural electorate. The election is scheduled for November 3.
