A recent poll conducted by the New York Times and Siena College has revealed a surprisingly close race for the Senate seat in Nebraska. Incumbent Republican Sen. Deb Fischer currently holds 48% of likely voters, while Independent Dan Osborn is not far behind with 46%. The results fall within the margin of sampling error, indicating a neck-and-neck competition with no clear frontrunner.
Osborn has garnered significant support from younger voters, with 62% of likely voters under 30 backing him. Additionally, he enjoys the backing of 63% of independent voters. Notably, Osborn has managed to attract 16% of individuals who are supporting former President Donald Trump in the presidential race against Vice President Kamala Harris.
While Trump maintains a substantial lead in Nebraska, Harris leads by a double-digit margin in the state's 2nd Congressional District. The outcome of the Senate race in the Cornhusker state could have far-reaching implications for the balance of power in the US Senate. Republicans need to secure two Democratic-held seats and maintain their current positions to reach the 51 seats required to control the chamber.
Initially considered a non-competitive race, Fischer's seat is now a focal point of attention due to Osborn's unexpectedly strong challenge. It remains uncertain whether Osborn, if victorious, will align himself with the Democrats or Republicans in the Senate.
Texas Senate Race: Cruz Leads Allred
In a separate poll conducted by the New York Times and Siena College in Texas, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is narrowly ahead of Democratic Rep. Colin Allred in the race for Cruz's re-election. Cruz currently enjoys the support of 50% of voters, while Allred trails with 46%.
The polls in both Nebraska and Texas were conducted via telephone among likely voters from October 23 to 26. The margin of sampling error for the Nebraska results is plus or minus 3.2 points, while it stands at plus or minus 3.3 points for Texas.
