politics
Nebraska Democratic Senate Nominee Asks to Be Removed From Ballot
Cindy Burbank submitted a letter on July 17, 2026, asking that her name be taken off the November ballot. The secretary of state's office confirmed receipt and said it will seek guidance from the attorney general on whether to grant the request.
Jul 17, 5:40 PM·1m read1 source
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Nebraska Democratic Senate nominee Cindy Burbank submitted a letter on July 17 requesting that her name be removed from the November ballot. The action would leave Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts facing independent candidate Dan Osborn in the general election.
Rani Taborek-Potter, a spokesperson for Secretary of State Bob Evnen’s office, confirmed to NBC News that the office received the letter. Taborek-Potter said the secretary of state will send a letter to the state attorney general asking whether to honor the request. ” She added, “You deserve representation that works for you.
I’ve looked at the numbers. I won’t be your next senator. ” Burbank won the Democratic nomination in May 2026. She had said before the primary that she would drop out if she determined she could not win in November.
The Nebraska Democratic Party chairwoman, Jane Kleeb, posted on X last year that the party supports Osborn and believes a coalition of Democrats, independents and Republicans can defeat Ricketts. Communications director Jose Flores Jr. told NBC News the party will back that coalition.
A Democrat has not won a Nebraska U.S. Senate seat since 2006. Osborn lost his 2024 Senate race against Republican Sen. Deb Fischer by almost 7 points, and Kamala Harris lost the state by more than 20 points in the presidential race that year.
