GOP super PAC hits airwaves in close Nebraska Senate race

A GOP super PAC with ties to a powerful Nebraska family is going on offense for GOP Sen. Deb Fischer as she faces a closer-than-expected reelection bid.

The ESAFund, formerly known as the Ending Spending Action Fund, is making a $2 million TV ad buy to attack her opponent, union leader Dan Osborn, who is running as an independent. The ad, which was shared first with POLITICO, seeks to cast him as too liberal for a state whose Senate delegation has been dominated by Republicans for more than a decade.

“Deceptive Dan Osborn isn’t being up front with us,” the ad’s narrator says, adding that he is “too far left, can’t be trusted.”

The ad, which will start airing in Nebraska on Wednesday, reflects a broader strategy from Republicans as they try to define Osborn.

Nebraska is normally considered a safely red state — Donald Trump won it by 19 points in 2020, and its entire congressional delegation is made up of Republicans — but limited polling has shown Osborn gaining traction in the state as he tries to harness growing frustration at Washington into a voting coalition that defies party lines. While Republicans remain confident that Fischer will win in November, national Republicans are increasingly leaning into the race financially, including the Senate GOP’s campaign arm jumping in with its own ad buy late last month.

Republicans are homing in on a central theme as they ramp up their attacks on Osborn: That they believe he’s too liberal for Nebraska.

“Osborn is nothing more than a Chuck Schumer stooge. Osborn is not honest and we intend to educate Nebraska voters about his positions on key issues,” said Brian Baker, the president of the ESAFund.

Osborn has fiercely contested the attempts to tie him to national Democrats, noting that he’s been a registered independent since he was able to register to vote. In a recent cease-and-desist letter sent to Fischer’s campaign and another GOP outside group, Osborn’s campaign noted that he “has never been a Democrat.” Though super PACs with ties to Democrats have put money into the race, those outside groups are not allowed to coordinate with candidates, and Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), the chair of the Senate Democratic campaign arm, told reporters recently that he was “not engaged” in the race.

In a statement, the Osborn campaign was dismissive of the effort.

“Deb Fischer's billionaire buddies and super PACs are swooping in to try to save her failing campaign," said Dustin Wah, a campaign spokesperson. "Nebraskans know the difference between a corrupt politician who works for herself and a man of the people who works for them."

It’s not the first cycle that ESAFund has supported Fischer — and Baker on Tuesday heaped praise on her for having a “firm commitment to serve the people of Nebraska.” But it’s the group’s first TV ad buy during her 2024 campaign, and more help could follow.

The group, notably, has its own ties to a notable family in Nebraska circles. It was originally established by TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts with the aim of supporting candidates who back ideas like balancing the budget and reducing the size of the federal government, and other members of the family have donated to the group.

Ricketts’ son — former Nebraska Gov. and current Sen. Pete Ricketts , who is not involved with the super PAC — is on the ballot in November to finish out former Sen. Ben Sasse’s term.