Draft:Dan Osborn
Dan Osborn is an US Navy veteran, steamfitter, industrial mechanic, labor union leader and independent politician.
As president of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50G. he led the strike at Kellogg's Omaha plant in 2021. He is running as an independent candidate in the regular 2024 United States Senate election in Nebraska.[1]
Early life and family[edit]
Osborn was born in 1975. He moved with family to Omaha, Nebraska with his family when he was seven. In 1994, he graduated from Roncalli Catholic High School[2][3] He and his wife Megan have three children.[2][1]
Military career[edit]
Osborne was enlisted in the United States Navy. He served for 4 years as storekeeper (SK) aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64), completing two Western Pacific cruises and two Exercise RIMPAC cruises.[3]
He later joined the Nebraska Army National Guard. He attended the 19K Tanker school at the Idaho Army National Guard and for a served in the Tennessee National Guard.[2]
Union leader[edit]
Osborn started working at an industrial mechanic at the Kellogg's Omaha, Nebraska plant in 2004. He eventually became president of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50G. During his tenure he led the 2021 Kellogg's strike at plant in 2021.[4][5][6] It lasted 77 days and eventually spread to other plants across the United States.[1]
Osborn was later fired by Kellogg's on what he and others consider to be trumped up charges.[1]and works doing boiler maintenance and repair work at Boys Town in Omaha, as a member of Steamfitters and Plumbers Local 464.[7]
2024 United States Senate election candidacy[edit]
Nebraska has dominant-party system.[8] There are two elections for United States Senator from Nebraska in 2024: the 2024 Senate special election and the 2024 Senate regular election, the latter of which Osborn is running.
He officially announced his candidacy as an independent politician on October 5, 2023. He must garner 4,000 signatures from Nebraska voters before September, 2024 for eligibility.[1][3][9][10] Osborn had been a registered Democrat until 2016.[1] As the Democrats may or may not run a candidate under their banner, they are considering endorsing Osborn.[1][11][12]
A poll taken in December 2023 surprisingly showed him with a slight lead over the incumbant, Deb Fisher.[1][13] Observers have question the poll.[14]
See also[edit]
- List of third-party and independent performances in United States Senate elections
- List of United States senators from Nebraska
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h Weisman, Jonathan (February 18, 2024). "A Union Leader in Nebraska Tries to Leap to the Senate on Labor's Strength". The New York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Dan Osborn Independent for Senate". Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Dan Osborn, Navy Veteran and Industrial Mechanic from Omaha, Announces U.S. Senate Run". The Bull. September 21, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Schweizer, Errol (October 11, 2021). "Why Are Kellogg's Workers On Strike?". Forbes. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Kaplan, Juliana (November 7, 2021). "Meet the 18-year Kellogg's veteran who's leading workers in a month-long strike that's still going: 'What's at stake here is the American middle class'". Business Insider. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Rodrick, Stephan (November 30, 2021). "Cereal Killers: How 80-Hour Weeks and a Caste System Pushed Kellogg's Workers to Strike". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ Shanker, Deena (January 10, 2024). "Dan Osborn Was Fired for Watching Netflix at Work. Now He's Running for Senate". BNN Bloomberg. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Becka, Tom (October 16, 2023). "This Is Not An Endorsement … But …". Omaha Daily Record. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Hammel, Paul (September 21, 2023). "Omaha steamfitter/union leader Dan Osborn to challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Deb. Fischer". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Early, Steve (December 6, 2023). "Two Working-Class Candidates Launch U.S. Senate Runs". Labor Notes. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Jordon, Joe (January 8, 2024). "Despite gun divide Dems leaning toward Osborn for Senate". central.newschannelnebraska.com. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Sanderford, Aaron (October 6, 2023). "Union leader Dan Osborn kicks off nonpartisan U.S. Senate bid in Omaha". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Thakker, Prem (December 4, 2023). "Shock Poll Shows Independent Nebraska Union Leader Beating Republican Senator". The Intercept. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Sanderford, Aaron Nebraska Examiner (December 22, 2023). "Observers question poll indicating a close U.S. Senate race between Deb Fischer and Dan Osborn". Nebraska Public Media. Retrieved February 20, 2024.