With Election Day 2024 less than a year away, Nebraska Democrats are still waving the help wanted sign for two top of the ticket races.

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In less than a year Nebraska voters go to the polls to elect not one but two U.S. Senators.

Republican Senator Deb Fischer is looking for a 3rd term, after once vowing to only serve two terms.

Republican Senator Pete Ricketts, appointed by Gov. Jim Pillen, who Ricketts endorsed, is looking to fill two more years, and then run for another six in 2026.

Earlier this year Democrats insisted challengers were coming.

Jane Kleeb, Nebraska Democratic Party. “I think you’ll start to see those announcements in late fall.”

That was June, this was September.

Joe Jordan, NCN: “They still coming?”

Jane Kleeb, NDP: “They’re still coming. We will definitely have candidates later this fall.”

But Kleeb now tells NCN, fall has turned to winter. She says at least one Senate candidate will step up in January, and the other will be close behind. At the same time as we first reported, Nebraska Democrats are also considering a unique move, teaming up with an independent who is already running for the Senate.

Dan Osborn, U.S. Senate candidate (I): “As a working Nebraskan, a man who has clocked in for a living.”

Union leader Dan Osborn is challenging Fischer, and while Democrats consider jumping on the Osborn bandwagon, Osborn, in an exclusive interview with NCN, made it clear he’s a political rookie.

Jordan: “Have you ever smoked marijuana?”

Osborn: “No.”

A few moments later our interview was over, or so I thought, because Osborn had a question for me.

Osborn: “Can you ask me, can you ask me the marijuana question again?”

Jordan: “Sure, I think I began…”

Osborn: “Because I don’t want to lie about it.”

So, I asked, again.

Jordan: “Have you ever used marijuana?”

Osborn: “Yes, I’ve tried marijuana in the past?”

Jordan: “A lot?”

Osborn: “No. No. I did not like the short-term memory loss I experienced from it, so I’ve only done it a handful of times.”

Gov. Tim Walt Minnesota (D): “We just stayed focused on those things that improved people’s lives.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat born and raised in Nebraska, was in Omaha a few months back, well aware it’s been nearly 20 years since Nebraska Democrats won a big fight.

Joe Jordan: “Governor, what would your advice be to the Nebraska Democratic Party to win a statewide race?”

Gov. Walz: “Organize at the party level to begin with, then talk to people one on one. Don’t expect this to be one candidate is going to save the day or you’re going to buy some ads.”

In 2018, the last time both Fischer and Ricketts ran statewide, each won in landslides.