Former Nebraska Senate candidate Dan Osborn is launching a new political group to mobilize working-class voters and support their campaigns for office – just two weeks after he lost to Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) by single digits.
Osborn, a steamfitter who ran a surprisingly competitive Senate bid against Fischer, is rolling out a new group called the Working Class Heroes Fund, which looks to throw its weight behind working-class people running for office – “particularly patriots who have served their country, who are building cross partisan coalitions to give the working class a seat at the table,” according to the group.
The group also seeks to mobilize working-class voters and advocate for policies to further working-class people.
The group is a hybrid committee, meaning that it operates two separate bank accounts – one that raises and spends money on independent expenditures and another that gives contributions to candidates.
Osborn’s new group comes just weeks after losing to Fischer, though the margin of that race was closer and more contested than expected: Osborn only lost to her by close to 7 points, while President-elect Trump won Nebraska by more than 20 points.
Osborn leaned into his working class background as a political newcomer during his campaign while arguing that Fischer was beholden to those who gave her money. Osborn incorporated policy positions aimed at attracting both Republicans and Democrats and said he would be an independent voice if elected to the Senate.
Meanwhile, Republicans argued he was a Democrat in sheep’s clothing.
Osborn’s defeat underscores the increasingly difficult terrain independent candidates must navigate, particularly in Senate campaigns.
Independent candidate Evan McMullin sought to give Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) a run for his money in 2022, but he later lost by over 10 points.
Still, Osborn’s candidacy has also suggested there could be an environment for independent candidates to defy political gravity.
