The Trump-voting pastor Democrats think could cost them a chance at a Nebraska Senate seat

[Celerity]

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/30/politics/nebraska-senate-trump-pastor



In Nebraska’s Senate race, a Trump-supporting, anti-abortion pastor is running as a Democrat. The state’s Democratic Party — which is backing an independent candidate — says he’s a Republican plant. And another Democratic primary candidate says she’s running just to stop him.

The unusual dynamic has roiled the Senate contest in deep-red Nebraska, turning into a high-stakes test of Democrats’ unconventional strategy — skipping their own primary to back independent Dan Osborn, in their effort to defeat incumbent Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts. Osborn can run straight to the general election without facing a primary.

William Forbes, a 79-year-old pastor from rural Nebraska, entered the Democratic primary just before the filing deadline in early March, upending a carefully coordinated plan by state Democrats to clear the field for Osborn. To oppose Forbes, another candidate, Cindy Burbank, also filed at the last minute on the Democratic primary ticket but has had her candidacy challenged by the state Republican Party and Nebraska’s Republican secretary of state.

In an interview with CNN, Forbes said he’s voted for President Donald Trump in multiple elections but denied being a Republican plant, insisting that he’s a lifelong Democrat. Asked repeatedly to name a Democrat he voted for, Forbes grew frustrated and said the party needed to return to the “morality” it represented under President John F. Kennedy.

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[TheRickles]

1. So anyone can just declare themselves to be a Democrat and run in the primary?

[Celerity]

2. I am so not an expert on Nebraska's Democratic Party, but it would seem so. I so hope they can stop this MAGAt POS.

[sop]

3. Most of these faux Democrats aren't so obvious; they usually play the part really well to get elected, then when

their vote on an important progressive issue becomes crucial, they show their true colors.

[Raven123]

4. Realistically, Do Dems have a chance of winning this seat?

If so, I hope they are investing in the effort to inform the electorate?

[Celerity]

5. Dan Osborn absolutely has a decent shot

[Raven123]

7. Thanks. Then I hope Dems head off this faux Democrat

[karynnj]

6. I wonder why instead of having a real Democrat running who intends to endorse the independent,

they didn't do what VT has done in many House and now Senate elections for Bernie. He runs on the Democratic line making it clear he will run as independent in the general election. Even if Democrats ran a write in campaign in the primary for him, wouldn't that be an easier way to get to him being the independent candidate endorsed by the Democrats?

[Celerity]

8. Bernie caucuses with the US Senate Dems though. I thought Osborn would not caucus with either Party.

[karynnj]

9. Thanks, that makes sense

Given that the Nebraska Democratic party is publicly supporting him, I wrongly assumed he, like Bernie and King, would caucus with the Democrats.