Democratic Senate candidate Cindy Burbank has officially declared her intention to drop out of the race.
The Nebraska Secretary of State's office said Burbank filed paperwork Friday to decline the nomination, which she received by winning the Democratic primary election in May.
However, it may not be that easy.
Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who previously tried to keep Burbank off the primary ballot after she said publicly her intention was to drop out of the race, has said he might try to force her to keep her name on the ballot. A spokesperson for Evnen said he plans to write a letter Monday to Attorney General Mike Hilgers, asking if his office is required to honor Burbank's declination of the nomination.
Burbank's fight with Evnen's office isn't new. In March, Evnen had already removed Burbank from the primary ballot once, arguing she wasn't a "good-faith candidate" because she'd said she would support independent candidate Dan Osborn against Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts if she won the Democratic nomination. Burbank sued over that removal, and a Lancaster County judge initially dismissed her case before the Nebraska Supreme Court later reinstated her to the ballot.
Burbank went on to win the Democratic primary in May but vowed to drop out of the Senate race to clear a pathway for Osborn. She also backed independent 1st Congressional District candidate Austin Ahlman.
Nebraska Public Media News reached out to Ricketts' campaign, Burbank, Osborn's campaign and Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb for comment. None had responded as of this story's publication.
This is a developing story and may be updated.