Dan Osborn
Osborn's record moved: in 2024 his campaign called Israel's response justified, seeking no aid conditions; by 2026 he welcomed a PAC urging cuts to U.S.-Israel military funding and said of Gaza: "I see the pictures coming out of Gaza, and there's nothing left."
Osborn, a Navy veteran and former union leader, is the independent challenging Sen. Ricketts after his 2024 run against Sen. Fischer. His trajectory on this question is documented at both ends, and the change is the story.
In April 2024 his campaign said "Hamas is a terrorist group and Dan thinks Israel's response was justified" (an existing record quote), and a spokesperson said he had not called for conditioning aid to Israel even while supporting conditions on Ukraine aid. By early 2026 he welcomed the endorsement of A New Policy PAC, a group urging cuts to U.S.-Israel military funding, saying "We deserve a foreign policy that honors the decency and moral center of the American people," and his record carries his sharpest line: tax dollars paying "for bombs that knock over hospitals in other countries. 'Made in the USA' should be a point of pride, not a point of shame when it's written on bombs that kill kids."
Asked at a May 2026 Omaha town hall whether Gaza is a genocide, he answered: "I'm not an expert on what a genocide is. I see the pictures coming out of Gaza, and there's nothing left," calling it a human tragedy America "should not be complicit" in, and per the outlet noting blocked aid and press access. He said there he takes no AIPAC money, framed within overturning Citizens United. In March 2026 he told Jewish Insider he opposes being drawn into an "open-ended, costly war" with Iran and that "I will always stand against anti-Semitism, and completely agree we cannot allow a nuclear Iran."
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- [Position, 2024-04-25, reported] Spokesperson: supported conditioning military aid to Ukraine; had not called for conditioning aid to Israel at that time.
- [Position, 2026-02, reported 2026-03-09] Welcomed A New Policy PAC's endorsement (the group urges cutting U.S.-Israel military funding): "We deserve a foreign policy that honors the decency and moral center of the American people... I'm proud to stand with A New Policy PAC in that calling" (Jewish Insider; the record's prior research carries the bombs-that-kill-kids quote from the same episode as an existing record quote).
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2026-05-25] The town-hall answer notes "They don't let humanitarian aid in", as reported (the summary we read confirms he said humanitarian access is blocked); a statement about Israel blocking aid, not yet a stated U.S. funding position.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2026-05-25] Omaha town hall (Plains Sentinel, read and verified): "I'm not an expert on what a genocide is. I see the pictures coming out of Gaza, and there's nothing left" (verbatim); characterized it as "a human tragedy" America "should not be complicit" in (verified fragments); a fuller version adds "They're starving people to death," carried, as reported.
- [Position, 2026-03-09] To Jewish Insider: "Right now, I do have concerns about the United States participating in an unpopular conflict with Iran that may draw us into another open-ended, costly war in the Middle East during a moment where large swaths of our citizens, including veterans, can't afford groceries or medicine."
- [Position, 2024-04-25] Spokesperson: "Hamas is a terrorist group and Dan thinks Israel's response was justified" (existing record quote), with concern about rising casualties.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Position, 2026-05-25] Takes no AIPAC money; framed within campaign-finance reform and overturning Citizens United (Plains Sentinel, verified). A money-refusal statement, never read as a weapons position; his funding positions are stated separately above.
- [Position, 2026-05-04] Race framing: working-class independent vs a billionaire senator (American Prospect); his campaign site carries no Israel platform; ontheissues sources returned 403.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [Position, 2026-03-09] "I will always stand against anti-Semitism, and completely agree we cannot allow a nuclear Iran" (existing record quote; Jewish Insider source).
Also in this race: Mike Marvin (Other), Pete Ricketts (Republican) · All Nebraska candidates.
See the full record →But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps. Open the interactive card for votes, funding and contact details.