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Dan Osborn

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Dan Osborn
Osborn in 2023
Personal details
Born (1975-03-29) March 29, 1975 (age 49)
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		Democratic (before 2016)
SpouseMegan Osborn
Children3
Military service
Branch/service
UnitUSS Constellation (CV-64)

Dan Osborn (born March 29, 1975) is a U.S. Navy veteran, steamfitter, industrial mechanic, labor union leader, and independent politician.

As president of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50G, he led the strike at Kellogg's Omaha plant in 2021. He is running as an independent candidate in the regular 2024 United States Senate election in Nebraska.[1]

Early life and family

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Dan Osborn was born on March 29, 1975.[2] His mother was a seamstress,[3] and his father, Gary, worked for Union Pacific Railroad, loading cargo.[4] When Dan was seven, his family moved to Omaha after his father was transferred.[3] Gary Osborn also served as a Dodge County Commissioner.[5]

After an accident, Gary was moved to the railroad company's management side and transferred out of state.[4] Dan stayed in Omaha to finish up high school and lived on his own starting at age 16, paying rent with odd jobs.[4] He graduated from Roncalli Catholic High School in 1994.[3][6]

Osborn and his wife, Megan, have three children.[3][1]

Military career

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After high school, Osborn enlisted in the United States Navy. He served four years as storekeeper (SK) aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64) aircraft carrier, completing two Western Pacific cruises and two Exercise RIMPAC cruises.[6]

Osborn later joined the Nebraska Army National Guard. He attended the 19K Tanker school at the Idaho Army National Guard and served in the Tennessee National Guard.[3]

Union leader

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In 2004, Osborn began working as an industrial mechanic at the Kellogg's Omaha plant.[7] He eventually became president of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50G.[8] He rose to national prominence when he led the 2021 Kellogg's strike at the plant.[7][9][10] The strike, which was prompted by a two-tier system of pay and included other plants across the country, lasted 77 days.[1]

Kellogg's later fired Osborn.[11] He is employed doing boiler maintenance and repair work at Boys Town and is a member of Steamfitters and Plumbers Local 464.[12]

2024 U.S. Senate candidacy

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Osborn
Independent for U.S. Senate
Campaign2024 U.S. Senate election in Nebraska
CandidateDan Osborn
AffiliationIndependent
AnnouncedOctober 5, 2023
HeadquartersOmaha, Nebraska
Website
osbornforsenate.com/meet-dan/

Both incumbent Republican U.S. Senators from Nebraska are running for reelection in 2024, one in a special election and one in a regular election. Osborn is running in the latter, in which there is no Democratic nominee, against the incumbent, Deb Fischer, and says he can represent working and middle-class constituencies better than wealthy, establishment politicians.[13]

Osborn greeting supporters in Omaha, May 2024

Osborn officially announced his candidacy as an independent on October 5, 2023. He garnered the 4,000 signatures from Nebraska voters for eligibility by March 2024.[1][6][14][15][16] In August he submitted more than 12,000, securing his place on the ballot.[17]

Osborn was a registered Democrat until 2016.[1] Democrats elected not to run a candidate in the race, and Osborn said he would not seek their endorsement.[1][18][19][20] The Democratic state party chair said the party considered running a write-in candidate.[20] Democrats have claimed Osborn led them on, but he says he was clear about not accepting endorsements from any political party.[21] He says he wants to create an independent caucus in the Senate rather than caucus with either party.[22] He has referred to the current system as a "two-party doom loop".[23] Osborn was endorsed by the Reform Party of the United States in September 2024.[24]

Osborn says his priorities are protecting small businesses, family farmers, and workers.[13] He supports raising the national minimum wage and a lower tax rate on overtime work; guaranteeing access to abortion; facilitating union organizing; protecting gun rights; securing U.S. borders and exploring ways to legalize some undocumented workers; legalizing and taxing marijuana; and improved railroad safety. He has said he supports a "libertarian approach" to hot-button issues and that government should be kept out of private lives. He believes in a "right-to-repair" of consumer goods such as cars and electronics.[25]

Asked about his prospects in the race by the New York Times, Osborn said: "I've gone up against a major American corporation. I stood up for what I thought was right, and I won." Of the major candidates in the 2024 United States presidential election he said (before Joe Biden withdrew): "I think they're both too old. I think they're both incompetent. There's a good chance I won't vote for president."[1]

Osborn has raised more campaign funds, mostly small dollar donations, than any independent candidate in Nebraska history.[26]

Traditionally a safe Republican seat,[27] the race has been called unusually competitive thanks to Osborn's candidacy, and potentially important in determining partisan control of the Senate.[28][29] An August 2024 poll by Split Research showed Fischer with a slight lead (39%-38%) over Osborn, within a 3% margin of error, while 23% of voters said they were still undecided. The poll led the Nebraska Examiner to call the election a tight race.[30]

Personal life

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Osborn lives in Omaha, Nebraska with his wife Megan; they have three children together.[31]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Weisman, Jonathan (February 18, 2024). "A Union Leader in Nebraska Tries to Leap to the Senate on Labor's Strength". The New York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  2. ^ von Kampen, Todd (March 20, 2024). "Osborn bucks Democrats, GOP in independent Senate bid against Fischer". The North Platte Telegraph.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Dan Osborn Independent for Senate". Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Goldstein, Luke (April 25, 2024). "The Newcomer From the Shop Floor". The American Prospect. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  5. ^ Bamer, Erin (September 22, 2023). "Independent candidate to challenge Deb Fischer for Senate seat". The North Platte Telegraph. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "Dan Osborn, Navy Veteran and Industrial Mechanic from Omaha, Announces U.S. Senate Run". The Bull. September 21, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Schweizer, Errol (October 11, 2021). "Why Are Kellogg's Workers On Strike?". Forbes. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  8. ^ Thakker, Prem (December 4, 2023). "Shock Poll Shows Independent Nebraska Union Leader Beating Republican Senator". The Intercept. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  9. ^ Kaplan, Juliana (November 7, 2021). "Meet the 18-year Kellogg's veteran who's leading workers in a month-long strike that's still going: 'What's at stake here is the American middle class'". Business Insider. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  10. ^ Rodrick, Stephan (November 30, 2021). "Cereal Killers: How 80-Hour Weeks and a Caste System Pushed Kellogg's Workers to Strike". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "Kellogg Fired a Union Leader for Watching Netflix at Work. Now He's Running for Senate". Bloomberg.com. January 10, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  12. ^ Shanker, Deena (January 10, 2024). "Dan Osborn Was Fired for Watching Netflix at Work. Now He's Running for Senate". BNN Bloomberg. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Early, Steve (December 6, 2023). "Two Working-Class Candidates Launch U.S. Senate Runs". Labor Notes. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  14. ^ Plummer, Kate (December 5, 2023). "Shock Poll Gives Challenger Lead in State Donald Trump Won by 19 Points". TIME. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  15. ^ Hammel, Paul (September 21, 2023). "Omaha steamfitter/union leader Dan Osborn to challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Deb. Fischer". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  16. ^ Early, Steve (March 13, 2024). "Dan Osborn Challenges Nebraska's Political Establishment with a Blue-Collar Agenda". Barn Raising Media. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  17. ^ Sanderford, Aaron (August 20, 2024). "Dan Osborn turns in signatures to appear on ballot against U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer • Nebraska Examiner".
  18. ^ Jordon, Joe (January 8, 2024). "Despite gun divide Dems leaning toward Osborn for Senate". central.newschannelnebraska.com. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  19. ^ Sanderford, Aaron (October 6, 2023). "Union leader Dan Osborn kicks off nonpartisan U.S. Senate bid in Omaha". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Sanderford, Aaron (June 1, 2024). "Dan Osborn might not face Democratic Senate write-in candidate • Nebraska Examiner". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  21. ^ Kirst, Seamus (July 28, 2024). "Can a Mechanic Running as an Independent Steal a Senate Seat From Republicans?". Rolling Stone.
  22. ^ https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/13/dan-osborn-independent-senate-nebraska-00151967
  23. ^ Roarty, Alex (September 23, 2024). "A Candidate Who Wants to End the 'Two-Party Doom Loop' Appears to Be Getting Help From Dems". NOTUS. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  24. ^ Evans, Jordan Willow (September 13, 2024). "Reform Party Endorses Dan Osborn for Nebraska Senate Race". Independent Political Report. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  25. ^ Swett, William (February 21, 2024). ""They want us divided"..." York News-Times. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  26. ^ Hoff, Maya Marchel. "Nebraska steamfitter running for U.S. Senate against GOP incumbent is gaining traction". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  27. ^ Becka, Tom (October 16, 2023). "This Is Not An Endorsement … But …". Omaha Daily Record. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  28. ^ Adeosun, Adeola (September 1, 2024). "GOP Senate incumbent gets worrying sign in state Trump won by 19 points". Newsweek. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  29. ^ Faris, David (September 3, 2024). "Could Nebraska Cost Republicans the Senate?". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  30. ^ Sanderford, Aaron (September 4, 2024). "Fischer and Osborn might be in tight race, as both tout union endorsements • Nebraska Examiner". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  31. ^ "Dan Osborn's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
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