Republicans Cling to Nebraska Senate Seat Amid Stiff Challenge From Independent

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) retained her seat despite being evenly matched with union leader Dan Osborn, who ran on a populist platform.

Senate Armed Services Committee member Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) arrives for a hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Nov. 27, 2018. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Senate Republicans avoided a major defeat on Election Day as Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) was reelected to a third term from Nebraska, beating independent candidate Dan Osborn, who mounted a close challenge.

Fischer, the state’s senior senator first elected in 2012, had been leading in polls for most of the campaign until Oct. 1, when Osborn began to gain support, with some polls showing him slightly ahead.