NEBRASKA CITY – Dan Osborn, an independent U.S. Senate candidate, brought his “What Ales You Tour” to Nebraska City and Plattsmouth, Friday and asked Nebraskans to consider how their vote for an independent could change American politics.

He said Nebraska has the country’s only independent Unicameral and its last independent voice in the U.S. Senate was George Norris, who many in history call the greatest U.S. senator.

Osborn: “I tend to think Nebraskans have an independent spirit.”

 

Osborn is opposing two-time Republican Senator Deb Fischer on the ballot and criticizing her on the campaign trail.

Osborn: “I want to continue to be a voice for working people across Nebraska, working families. There’s nobody like me in the United States Senate. Right now, it’s a millionaires’ club, a billionaires’ club.”

He said recent polls that show a tight race between the two, despite a deeply Republican voting base, indicate that people are frustrated with Congress. Osborn said the latest poll makes it clear that Nebraskans prefer his background and his message when side-by-side with Fischer.

He said Nebraskans can make a difference in November.

Osborn: “It’s not corporations that vote. It’s the people. Corporations are going to throw all their money behind Fischer, but it’s the people that will ultimately sway this decision.”

 

Johnny Dean Friday, who was among those meeting Osborn at Plattsmouth, said he thinks the United States is ready for independent candidates.

Friday: “For decades we’ve been told you can’t win – you’ve got to be one of the two parties, but I don’t know why. They can’t explain why.”

 “We want people that have fresh ideas, that aren’t going to be swayed by someone else’s ideas in some other state that has no bearing on us. I want someone who can do what’s right for the country and can do what’s right for our state. That’s why I’m kind of looking at an independent.”

Osborn is asking Nebraskans to think of the ramifications if they elect an Independent senator over a two-term incumbent. He said it would show nurses, mechanics and teachers that this can be done.

Osborne: "They'll know they don’t have to be self-funded to gain higher office in this country."

Osborn joined the U.S. Navy out of high school in Omaha following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father. He later joined the Nebraska Army National Guard.

He said fellow Kellogg's employees were working 12-hours a day, seven days a week during the Covid-19 pandemic. At one point half of the workforce was forced quarantine or sick, but the remaining workers kept everything running.

He said Kellogg’s ended up making record profits, so workers thought it would be a good new labor contract.

Osborn: “But the first day of negotiations Kellogg sat across the table from us and said we’re going after your health insurance, we’re going after your cost of living wage adjustments and we’re going to implement a permanent two-tier wage system with no path for the lower employees to make it to an upper employee, so that means eventually everybody is going to be on the lower tier.”

There hadn’t been a labor strike in Nebraska since 1972, so Osborn had to figure out what it would mean. On Oct. 5, 2021, it meant 1,400 workers at four plants striking for 77 days. He said the strike preserved wages and benefits.

Osborn: “That’s why I’m doing this today. That’s why I’m running for U.S. Senate. I want to continue to be a voice for working people across Nebraska, working families.”