Senate hopeful with deep Dem ties has paid family over $350K from his campaign coffers
FIRST ON FOX: Dan Osborn, a Nebraska "independent" Senate hopeful with deep ties to Democrats, has faced criticism for funneling a significant amount of campaign funds to his family members,...
By Fox News · Fox News
FIRST ON FOX: Dan Osborn, a Nebraska "independent" Senate hopeful with deep ties to Democrats, has faced criticism for funneling a significant amount of campaign funds to his family members, amounting to almost $250,000 to just his wife and her political consulting firm. Across both his failed bid in 2024 and his current bid in the 2026 cycle, Osborn, his wife, daughter and sister-in-law have raked in north of $370,000, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings reviewed by Fox News Digital. The money stems from both Osborn's campaign and his affiliated political action committee, the Working Class Heroes Fund. In July, Osborn, who is trying to oust incumbent Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., faced heat over his FEC filings that showed his campaign made six payments to his wife, Megan, amounting to roughly $19,000 between April and June. "If you're James Carville and you're running and you hire your wife Mary Matalin, that's one thing," Perre Neilan, a longtime Nebraska political strategist and former Executive Director of the Nebraska Republican Party said after the payments came to light. "But this one, I think – this one stinks." SANDERS-ENDORSED SENATE CANDIDATE KNOCKED FOR ALLEGED FLIP-FLOP TO 'HAVE IT BOTH WAYS' ON KEY ISSUE Meanwhile, several months later, it was uncovered that Osborn also funneled over $100,000 to a shadowy political consulting firm co-owned by his wife last year as well. The FEC made it easier for candidates to pay themselves in 2023, a move meant to give less wealthy folks an easier shot at running. Osborn, who has been endorsed by leaders of the Nebraska Democratic Party and has received campaign cash from multiple Democratic campaigns, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has not been the only candidate to take advantage of this. However, while the payments are not illegal, critics have taken issue with the lack of political experience from Osborn's wife, a former restaurant manager. Across both Osborn's 2024 and 2026 campaig…