General Discussion

RandySF

(86,193 posts) Wed May 13, 2026, 06:22 AM Wednesday

NE-SEN: Primary Winner (D) to Drop Out to Support Independent

“A Democratic challenger who said she intends to drop out of November’s race for the US Senate in Nebraska to clear the way for an independent candidate has won the state’s Democratic primary,” The Guardian reports.

“Cindy Burbank ran against William Forbes, who Democrats contended was a Republican plant in the race, with the intent to drop out if she won. Forbes, a pastor who has voted for Trump and opposed abortion access, is currently registered as a Democrat.”

CNN: Democrats pin their hopes on an Independent to flip a GOP Senate seat.

https://politicalwire.com/2026/05/13/primary-winner-to-drop-out-to-support-independent/

2 replies

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NE-SEN: Primary Winner (D) to Drop Out to Support Independent (Original Post) RandySF Wednesday OP

Read the linked CNN article for more info: intheflow Wednesday #1

I just want to clarify what she actually said Quiet Em Wednesday #2

intheflow

(30,249 posts)

1. Read the linked CNN article for more info:

Reply to RandySF (Original post)

Wed May 13, 2026, 12:16 PM

Wednesday

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/13/politics/video/inside-the-craziest-election-in-the-country-democrats-pin-their-hopes-on-an-independent-to-flip-a-gop-senate-seat-lcl

It's only a clip, maybe a sentence or two longer than this post, but this post didn't make any sense to me. Sounded like she was stepping aside for Forbes to run. In fact, she's stepping aside for Dan Osborn (I) to run.

Quiet Em

(3,014 posts)

2. I just want to clarify what she actually said

Reply to RandySF (Original post)

Wed May 13, 2026, 01:00 PM

Wednesday

Burbank said in a phone interview last week that she would consider ending her campaign and backing Osborn if she does not have a clear path to victory. But she denied that she entered the Democratic primary with the intent to drop out.

“I will drop out when and if the time comes that I cannot win in November. And I think anybody with any dignity should do that,” she said, saying that she would evaluate her prospects based on polling and that she aims to decide in time to remove her name from the November ballot.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/democrats-nebraska-senate-primary-dan-osborn-pete-ricketts-rcna344474

I've seen headlines stating "will drop out" and "may drop out" but not many that that reflect her complete statement.

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