Dan Osborn, a former labor union leader who is running as an independent in Nebraska’s 2026 U.S. Senate race, made the remarks during a private meeting with Black and Latino Democrats in July, according to Politico. The recording has drawn attention to Osborn’s changing rhetoric on border security as he seeks another Senate bid.

During the meeting, Osborn was asked about his previous support for a border wall. He reportedly responded by saying that the wall was “a joke” and “a symbol of racism,” while questioning whether it actually accomplished anything.

Osborn's comments appear to differ substantially from the message he used during his 2024 Senate campaign against Republican Sen. Deb Fischer. During that campaign, Osborn sought to appeal to Nebraska voters by presenting himself as an independent willing to take positions associated with both parties.

In one 2024 campaign advertisement, Osborn referenced his willingness to help construct the wall, saying, “If Trump needs help building a wall, well I’m pretty handy.”

The leaked recording reportedly provides a different explanation for that earlier position. When discussing his support for the wall, Osborn said, “Campaigning is not being a U.S. senator,” before describing the effort as “trying to win votes in a Republican state.”

That explanation is now at the center of the controversy surrounding the recording. Rather than simply representing a change in policy, Osborn’s comments raise questions about whether some of his previous positions were adopted as campaign strategies to appeal to Nebraska voters.

Osborn has built his political identity around being independent from both Republicans and Democrats. He first gained national attention with his 2024 Senate campaign, finishing second behind Fischer after running without a major-party nomination.

For the 2026 election, Osborn is again seeking the Senate seat as an independent. Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts is seeking reelection, while Nebraska Democrats have backed Osborn rather than fielding a separate Democratic candidate.

The leaked audio therefore comes as Osborn attempts to maintain his independent political identity while appealing to voters across Nebraska's political spectrum. His reported comments about the border wall have brought renewed attention to the contrast between his previous campaign messaging and his current description of the policy.