LINCOLN — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was at the Country Club of Lincoln on Friday to campaign for Nebraska U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts in his bid for reelection. 

Both Ricketts and Cruz emphasized the seriousness of the Senate race in Nebraska, a noticeable shift in tone from earlier in the cycle as Republicans face a midterm environment that typically does not favor the party in power.

Cruz painted Ricketts’ opponent, nonpartisan candidate Dan Osborn as someone who is being “dishonest” with voters and tried to tie Osborn to the Democratic Party by calling him a “left-wing Democrat.”

Cruz, known as an uncompromising conservative stalwart, told the 300 people at the event that Ricketts’ biggest challenge is people’s assumption that he will win easily. He said Nebraska could decide which party controls the U.S. Senate. 

“I believe Pete’s going to win, but every single poll that comes out right now shows this race basically tied,” Cruz said. “The Democrats are dropping millions of dollars into Nebraska. … Their objective is to deceive the voters of Nebraska.” 

Last month, Cindy Burbank won the Democratic Party’s nomination for U.S. Senate, but she is expected to drop out of the race. In the run-up to the primary, she posted on her campaign website that she would drop out if she won to give Osborn a cleaner shot against Ricketts. 

Ricketts, in his speech to the crowd, talked about his time as governor. He bragged about passing Trump’s tax and spending bill, Republicans securing the southern border, and investing in defense against foreign adversaries. 

He called Osborn a “fake independent” and, like Cruz, tried to paint Osborn as a Democrat, pointing to his having received donations from New York and California and having at one point the same consultants as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Maine Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner. The Osborn campaign told the Omaha World Herald he is a “not an endorser or supporter” of Platner. 

“I’ve been involved in politics for 20 years. … There has never been a time when this country needs Republicans more than right now,” Ricketts told the crowd. 

Ricketts added that Nebraska is on the front lines of the midterm “battle.” He faces a tougher challenger than in 2024.

Cruz told The Examiner after the rally that he came to Nebraska because the midterm elections are a “real battle” across the country.

“This race in Nebraska is a real race, in significant part because the Democrats … I think, are being dishonest,” Cruz said. “They’re trying to engage in false advertising and pretend that their candidate is not a left-wing Democrat.”

Cruz was in Iowa last month, adding fuel to speculation of another presidential bid. Cruz sidestepped a question Friday about whether he has any 2028 presidential aspirations. He said he was “focused on midterms” and “will be campaigning for Senate, House, and gubernatorial candidates all over the country.”

Ricketts is looking to win his first full six-year term after Gov. Jim Pillen appointed him to replace former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse in 2023 after Sasse resigned to lead the University of Florida.

Osborn, who submitted signatures to get his name on the ballot earlier this week, said in a statement, “It’s good to finally see Pete Ricketts getting in front of Nebraskans.” 

“It makes sense that he was joined by his country club buddy Ted Cruz,” Osborn said. He called Cruz and Ricketts “birds of a feather” who are carrying out the “agenda of the billionaire Epstein class.” 

The rally location had to change because RSVPs exceeded capacity at the original venue, Zipline Brewing Company. Zipline abruptly announced plans to close its brewing operations on Thursday. The Ricketts campaign said the change in venue was not related to Zipline’s closure.

Nebraska Public Media reported that there were about 20 protestors outside the rally venue, holding signs criticizing the senators for their stances on affordability and for aligning with President Donald Trump.

The general election is Nov 3.

This story was published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. Read the original article: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/12/texas-sen-ted-cruz-campaigns-for-ricketts-in-nebraska/