Nebraska Senate candidate Dan Osborn has directed nearly half a million dollars in campaign and PAC funds to his wife, himself, and other family members across his two runs for office, according to an analysis by the Daily Mail. While federal law permits candidates to pay family members for campaign work, the significant sums have drawn scrutiny as Osborn mounts a second challenge against Republican incumbent Pete Ricketts.
Osborn's wife, Megan Osborn, and businesses linked to her received a total of $311,309. Financial disclosures indicate she holds an ownership interest in and receives a salary from Dark Forest LLC and Independent Campaigns LLC. Independent Campaigns LLC, a consulting firm that works with Democrats, received $208,671 from Osborn's campaign and PAC. Dark Forest LLC, tied to Megan Osborn and Democratic socialist political consultant Daniel Moraff, received $9,000.
Osborn himself received $122,056 from campaign and PAC funds. His daughter, Georgia, was paid $4,200 for alleged 'assistant services' during his 2024 Senate bid. Georgia, who has been described as a gothic cosmetologist and a professional dancer in Los Angeles, was listed on FEC records for her campaign role.
Further payments were made to other relatives. Osborn's sister-in-law, Bridget Boyle, received $45,736, and his brother-in-law, James Vihstadt, received $2,500, with both payments reportedly for 'treasurer' services. Another sister-in-law, Jodi Osborn, was paid $2,450 for similar duties. In total, payments to Osborn's family members and associated businesses amount to $488,253.
Osborn, who labels himself an independent, is challenging incumbent Pete Ricketts for a Nebraska U.S. Senate seat. The Nebraska Democratic Party has endorsed Osborn in the race against Ricketts. In his 2024 run against Republican Deb Fischer, Osborn secured 46.7 percent of the vote.
In response to the scrutiny, an Osborn campaign spokesperson stated that these attacks are intended to distract voters from Ricketts and his allies. The spokesperson emphasized Megan Osborn's central role in the campaign, highlighting her work in recruiting and launching candidates. Osborn himself has previously defended such practices, stating that he and his wife work extensive hours on the campaign trail and that it is difficult for working-class individuals to run for the Senate due to financial necessities.
Separately, a watchdog group, Americans for Public Trust, filed an FEC complaint in April concerning these payments. The complaint targeted two outside groups, the Working Class Heroes Fund and the League of Labor Voters, which allegedly share staff and advisors with Osborn's campaign. The complaint alleged that these groups solicited, received, and spent funds in violation of federal campaign finance laws. The FEC currently lacks the quorum needed to act on such complaints. The campaign has previously stated it is compliant with all FEC rules.
Recent reporting also highlighted Osborn's associations with Daniel Moraff, a political consultant involved with other Democratic campaigns. Moraff has faced controversy over past writings. Additionally, during his 2024 Senate bid, an email associated with Osborn was linked to an account on the affair website Ashley Madison, and a Twitter account he accessed was observed liking explicit content. Osborn's campaign denied any personal use of the affair website and stated he did not 'like' the pornography, attributing access to a shared corporate account used by multiple individuals.