Republicans hang on to Nebraska Senate seat, defeating independent challenger

Republicans have averted a potential disaster in Nebraska, with NBC News projecting that Sen. Deb Fischer has won re-election to a third term.

Fischer faced a surprisingly competitive challenge from independent Dan Osborn, a mechanic and union leader who cast her as a creature of Washington. But Fischer and her Republican allies worked to consolidate GOP voters in the ruby-red state, which former President Donald Trump is also projected to win.

Fischer's win gives the Republicans 51 Senate seats, putting them over the threshold needed for control of the chamber, NBC News projects.

Nebraska does play a unique role in the presidential race, because it allocates an electoral vote to the candidate who wins each of the state’s three congressional districts. But it has been nearly 20 years since the state elected a Democrat to the Senate, and Republicans typically carry statewide races with ease.

As it became clear that Osborn was running a competitive campaign, late ad spending surged in the Senate race, which included Trump’s filming an ad touting his support for Fischer.

“Deb Fischer has been a supporter of mine from the beginning, and she’s been tested,” Trump said directly to the camera. “She’s solid as a rock. She’s totally for the farmers. She wants the state of Nebraska taken care of.”

Since Labor Day, more than $40 million was spent on ads in the race, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.

Fischer also spent the final stretch arguing that Osborn is a “Democrat in disguise,” pointing to a Washington Examiner report about Osborn’s privately praising Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Osborn recently told MSNBC that he would not caucus with either party if he were elected.

Fischer was elected to the Senate in 2012 in a resounding victory over Democratic former Sen. Bob Kerrey, who had also been governor. Fischer cruised to re-election in 2018, as well.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com