Sen. Pete Ricketts, went on offense against independent opponent Dan Osborn in a debate, repeatedly calling him “Democrat Dan” throughout their meeting and associating his campaign with democratic socialists. ↧ GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts and independent opponent clash in fiery Nebr... Ricketts derided independent Dan Osborn as a Democrat in all but name. Osborn said Ricketts isn’t representing Nebraska as they compete in a race on the fringe of the Senate battlefield.