Dan Osborn, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., has paid more than $370,000 across his 2024 and 2026 campaigns to family members, including nearly $250,000 to his wife and her political consulting firm. The funds came from both his campaign and his affiliated political action committee, the Working Class Heroes Fund.

Critics have questioned the payments, noting Megan Osborn’s lack of prior political experience as a former restaurant manager. In July, filings showed six payments to Megan totaling roughly $19,000 between April and June, followed by more than $100,000 directed to her consulting firm later last year.

Osborn defended the compensation, saying both he and his wife work long hours on the campaign trail and highlighting recent changes to FEC rules that make it easier for candidates to pay themselves and staff. “Most Senators have millions, even billions,” Osborn said. “But we've learned that it's almost impossible to run for Senate as a regular person who needs to pay the bills and put food on the table.”

Osborn has also received national Democratic support, including campaign contributions from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and other Democratic campaigns. Critics have raised questions about his independence, pointing to his use of Democratic fundraising platforms like ActBlue and his wife’s consulting firm’s work for Democratic candidates.

His daughter, Georgia, and sister-in-law Jodi have also received campaign payments, with Georgia receiving $4,200 for assistant services and Jodi $1,400 for treasurer duties, according to filings. Jodi is listed as the treasurer of the Working Class Heroes Fund.

The candidate’s decision to run as an Independent and avoid caucusing with either major party has drawn scrutiny, given his Democratic connections. Additionally, some of his staff and advertising partners have ties to Democratic campaigns, raising further questions about the campaign’s independence.