At a town‑hall meeting in October 2025, Dan Osborn – the independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in Nebraska who has received the endorsement of the state Democratic Party – suggested that contemporary immigration enforcement mirrors the persecution of Jews in 1930s Germany. He told the audience, "You have to have a common enemy, right?" and added, "And in the 30s it was the Jews. This, they're using the immigrants." The remarks have been described by the Nebraska Republican Party as "outrageous and historically illiterate".
Inconsistent record on immigration
Osborn presents himself as a centrist, yet his public statements on immigration have shifted repeatedly. In 2021, while serving as president of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 50G, he alleged that Kellogg's was employing undocumented workers as replacements and said he contacted Homeland Security and ICE to investigate. His campaign now says he merely consulted local law enforcement.
During his Senate campaign, Osborn has aligned with former President Donald Trump on border security, supporting a border wall and opposing Social Security benefits for undocumented immigrants in campaign advertisements. By contrast, a 2024 interview with Semafor saw him advocate for "meaningful immigration reform" and for expanding Social Security access to immigrants. Republican Senator Pete Ricketts characterised the contradictory stance as "talking out of both sides of his mouth."
Links to progressive activists
The Washington Free Beacon reported that Osborn was recruited for his 2024 Senate bid by Daniel Moraff, a former member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Moraff later advised Maine candidate Graham Platner, whose unsuccessful Senate campaign concluded with a statement declaring "F*ck ICE. Free Palestine."
Osborn’s campaign has not responded to requests for comment on these connections. The controversy emerges shortly after he held a closed‑door meeting with the Nebraska chapter of Indivisible, a group funded by liberal donors that runs a national programme to train activists to monitor ICE activity. The Plains Sentinel noted that fewer than 20 people attended the restricted session.
Political fallout
Republicans have seized on the Nazi comparison, while progressive organisations remain divided over Osborn’s authenticity, especially after CNN reported his past cooperation with immigration enforcement during labour disputes. The episode underscores the challenges faced by a candidate who seeks to navigate a deeply conservative state while courting both Democratic endorsement and right‑wing voters.
First reported by the Washington Free Beacon.