Nebraska Democratic Senate nominee Cindy Burbank has submitted a letter requesting her name be removed from the 2026 ballot, potentially setting up a one-on-one race between Republican Sen. Deb Fischer and independent candidate Osborn.

Rani Taborek-Potter, spokesperson for Secretary of State Bob Evnen’s office, confirmed to NBC News that Burbank’s letter was received. The secretary of state will consult the state attorney general on whether to honor the request.

In a video message, Burbank said, “My candidacy for Senate was a privilege I’ll never forget,” adding, “You deserve representation that works for you.” She did not endorse any candidate but encouraged voters to educate themselves about the remaining contenders.

Burbank had previously indicated she would consider dropping out if she saw no viable path to victory. Her campaign website stated 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.” She denied running solely to create a direct contest between the Republican and the independent.

Osborn lost by nearly seven points in his 2024 Senate bid against Sen. Fischer. In contrast, then-Vice President Kamala Harris lost Nebraska by more than 20 points in the presidential race.

Sources