Cindy Burbank, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Nebraska, filed Friday to withdraw from the race, queuing up a head-to-head matchup between Republican incumbent Sen. Pete Ricketts and Independent challenger Dan Osborn.
Burbank, a pharmacy technician in Omaha, delivered a notarized “Declination of Candidate Nomination” letter to the Secretary of State’s office in Lincoln early Friday morning, roughly two weeks before the August 3 deadline for candidates to request their name be removed from the ballot.
Immediately after she filed her paperwork to exit the race, Burbank told Courier Nebraska: “I have my life back again.”
Burbank said that while she enjoyed her time traveling the state and meeting voters, her bid for US Senate was demanding and filled with adversity.
“But I will be back, and I’m not going to just sit on the sidelines either,” she added. “I do want to thank everybody who supported me, voted for me, and cheered me on. And it was a great, fun adventure. It reinforced to me that I grew up in a wonderful state with wonderful people.”
Her decision ends speculation on if she would follow through on her stated approach to the race—that she would drop out if she saw no viable path to victory.
Burbank has praised Osborn, even saying he deserves a 1-v-1 shot against Ricketts, though she has not officially endorsed him and denies allegations that dropping out to aid Osborn is or was an intention of her campaign.
“It’s kind of a closure to this chapter. I hope people understand why I did it,” she told Courier Nebraska.
Burbank’s Friday filing may also conclude a chapter of perhaps one of the most unusual races in recent Nebraska history.
After the state Democratic Party did not field a candidate to oppose Ricketts in 2026, Burbank entered the race on the deadline filing day, March 2, just minutes before the office closed. While there, she unknowingly paid the filing fee of a third-party opponent running in her race out of blind generosity.
About 15 minutes before that, a Trump-voting, anti-abortion Pastor accused by state Democrats and Burbank of being a plant by Ricketts—Will Forbes—filed to run as a Democrat.
Then, Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen removed Burbank from the May 12 primary ballot after the Nebraska Republican Party argued she was not a “good-faith” candidate because her campaign website openly supported Osborn against Ricketts.
Burbank subsequently sued to get back on the ballot. A judge dismissed her lawsuit, but Burbank appealed the decision to the state Supreme Court. The court ultimately ruled Burbank be placed back on the ballot, finding that the Nebraska GOP’s objection to her candidacy came too late under the state’s seven-day deadline for challenging candidate filings.
On primary day, Burbank trounced Forbes 90-10%.
Now having formally withdrawn, Burbank may face another legal challenge: actually getting her name removed from the general election ballot.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers confirmed the Secretary of State’s Office proactively asked for guidance on whether Secretary of State Bob Evnen must accept Burbank’s request.
Meanwhile, while still the active Democratic nominee for US Senate in Nebraska, Burbank endorsed nonpartisan candidate Austin Ahlman in Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District, siding against that race’s Democratic nominee, Chris Backemeyer, raising tensions within the state party. She has, however, given tacit endorsements to other local Democrats seeking office, including Nebraska attorney general candidate Jocelyn Brasher and Becky Stille, a candidate for US House in NE-03.
The conclusion of Burbank’s campaign came the day after Osborn was certified for the general election ballot by the Secretary of State. Osborn’s campaign declined to make a statement on Burbank’s withdraw at this time.
Reached on Friday, Evnen’s office said he will “compose a letter to the Attorney General’s office” on Monday to ask if he’s required to honor Burbank’s request.
In a statement to other news outlets, the Ricketts campaign accused Osborn of colluding with Burbank in her Friday decision. Burbank denied to Courier Nebraska that she’s has had any strategic communication with Osborn or his campaign.
The general election is set for November 3.
