Dan Osborn’s Election Night watch party sees highs and lows from supporters

OMAHA, Neb. (KLKN) – Approximately five hours after Dan Osborn’s election night watch party began at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha, the energy in the room transformed from optimism to defeat.

When the earliest votes were tallied up to show Osborn with a nearly 40% lead, supporters of the Independent candidate for senate erupted in applause.

That joy remained apparent with each house seat that flipped from red to blue across the nation.

One supporter told Channel 8 that the direction of the race at that point was exciting because it gave him hope.

“I’m looking forward for Dan on top. To see an independent into the senate – so independent – as he is not deciding to caucus either way, I think will be really huge,” said Gavin Williams, a student at UNO.

“I would love to see him be really staunch on that independency. Not caucusing either way, I think would be a really big development for against like the division in our two-party system. So, that’s mainly what I’m looking forward to,” he added.

Just two hours after that interview, the energy in the room shifted to defeat as Republican incumbent Pete Ricketts began to close the gap in their votes.

Ultimately, Dan Osborn who had not been seen at the watch party prior, came out a few minutes before midnight to address his supporters.

“I’ll tell you what this [is], it’s coming absolutely down to the wire. It’s not looking the greatest,” began Osborn.

Although visibly deflated, his speech echoed hope.

“Even if we didn’t get the result we wanted tonight, this movement has inspired people around the country. A fisherman and teacher in Alaska, a firefighter in Wisconsin, a firefighter in Spokane Washington, an iron worker in Ohio- who won tonight by the way- and they all pointed to Nebraska as inspiration, so you know, this fight will not stop tonight,” said Osborn.

He went on to say that working class people deserve a seat at the table in Washington D.C. and he’ll continue to demand better from our government.

Osborn also thanked his family, from his parents to his wife to his kids, for their support throughout his campaign.

The final results for the Nebraska senate race show Pete Ricketts holding his senate seat with 50% of votes (356,858) and Osborn with 44% of votes (312,179).