NEBRASKA – Nebraska Senate candidate Dan Osborn is facing criticism after Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings showed his campaign spent over $370,000 on family members across the 2024 and 2026 election cycles.

According to FEC documents cited by media, the majority of the expenditures – approximately $246,000 – went to his wife, Megan Osborn, and her Wyoming-based political consulting firm.

Controversial Payments

In 2024, Osborn's campaign made numerous payments to his wife, including six totaling nearly $19,000 between April and June. Subsequently, media uncovered an additional $100,000 transferred to a consulting firm she co-owns.

Additionally:

  • His daughter received $4,200 for "assistant services"
  • His sister-in-law received $1,400 for "treasurer services"

These funds originated from his campaign and his associated political action fund, the Working Class Heroes Fund.

It is not illegal for candidates to pay themselves or family members. The FEC relaxed regulations in 2023 to make it easier for non-wealthy individuals to run for office.

Osborn's Stance

Osborn, a former industrial mechanic, also received approximately $120,000 in salary from his campaign.

He previously stated that both he and his wife work long hours for the campaign, arguing that the current political system makes it difficult for working-class individuals to run for office without a salary mechanism.

His campaign emphasized Megan Osborn's crucial role in supporting and training working-class candidates.

Ties to the Democratic Party

Despite running as an independent, Osborn has received support from Nebraska Democratic leaders and funding from Democratic campaigns, including Elizabeth Warren.

He also utilizes the fundraising platform ActBlue, which is strongly associated with the Democratic Party. This has led some opponents to question the true extent of his independence.

Osborn is seeking to defeat incumbent Senator Pete Ricketts in the upcoming election.

The debate surrounding campaign finance and transparency is likely to remain a hot topic in Nebraska's 2026 Senate race.