Conservative group asks for investigation into Senate candidate Dan Osborn's campaign
By Aaron Bonderson 
, Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
March 24, 2026, 3:42 p.m. ·
A conservative watchdog group is alleging independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn has been misusing campaign funds.
Americans for Public Trust sent a complaint to the Federal Election Commission on Monday alleging that Osborn used his campaign committees to pay his immediate and extended family members, and their businesses, for campaign work that far exceeds fair market value. The complaint also alleges Osborn, and his campaign leadership, appear to be improperly controlling two federal political action committees, or PACs.
The Lincoln Journal Star reported last year that Megan Osborn received more than $18,000 from Osborn's campaign during the 2024 election. It later found a consulting company co-owned by her was paid more than $114,000 — just two days after it was formed in Wyoming — by the Osborn-affiliated Working Class Heroes Fund political action committee.
The watchdog group asked the FEC to investigate and sanction Osborn and PACs he’s affiliated with, including the Working Class Heroes Fund and League of Labor Voters. Americans for Public Trust claims that Osborn’s campaign and PACs paid Megan Osborn and her consulting companies more than $278,000.
The complaint also alleges that the campaign has made payments to other family members, including his two sisters-in-law, his brother-in-law, and his daughter.
Payments to family for legitimate consulting or other campaign services are not illegal unless those amounts surpass the fair market value of those services, according to the FEC.
On Tuesday night, a campaign spokesperson for Osborn told Nebraska Public Media News the complaint was baseless.
"What this complaint describes are baseless, nuisance allegations designed to slow Dan’s momentum as he’s tied with Pete Ricketts in four straight polls — the campaign is fully compliant with all FEC rules," the spokesperson said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story said the Americans for Public Trust complaint pertained to the Osborn 2024 campaign, but the group is also alleging misuse of funds this election cycle.