Nebraska Democrat Wins Primary with Intent to Withdraw, Avoiding Ballot Split

The Nebraska Democratic Party’s unexpected primary winner, Cindy Burbank, secured 89.2% of the vote in Tuesday’s senatorial primary but has no intention of appearing on the November ballot. The retired pharmacy technician’s campaign centered on withdrawing from the race, a strategy aimed at avoiding a ballot split that could benefit incumbent Republican Senator Pete Ricketts.

Burbank defeated anti-abortion pastor Bill Forbes, who was accused of being a covert Republican allegedly planted in the Democratic primary by Ricketts to aid his re-election bid. Forbes won just 10.8% of the vote, losing every region except one rural county.

Despite Burbank’s overwhelming victory, she was never the Nebraska Democratic Party’s preferred candidate. Instead, party leaders had endorsed Dan Osborn, a mechanic and former labor union leader running as an independent, in a deliberate effort to avoid fielding a candidate against Ricketts.

"William Forbes is not running to serve Nebraskans. He is running to trick voters." — Jane Kleeb, Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party (March)

Ricketts has denied any involvement in Forbes’ candidacy. Polls suggest Osborn’s odds in a head-to-head matchup with Ricketts are surprisingly strong, raising questions about how Democrats could prevent a three-way split among Ricketts, Osborn, and Burbank. Burbank’s win provided a solution.

"I don’t wanna split the ballot," Burbank told The New York Times via text message after her victory. "I have no expectations of being able to win in November."

Following her win, Burbank expressed mixed feelings about her landslide victory, which was called just six minutes after polls closed.

"I was kinda disappointed by my overwhelming success Tuesday evening. The race was called just six minutes after polls closed, which had taken ‘all the fun out of it.’"

"That would be such sweetness."

Burbank’s path to the ballot was initially blocked when the GOP secretary of state removed her due to her unconventional plan. However, she successfully sued to restore her ballot access.