

William Forbes
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Nebraska
Nebraska Democratic Senate nominee?
Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Live Odds — Nebraska Democratic Senate nominee?
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
0.1%chance to win
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current rolePastor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyConservative Democrat
LocationNebraska
BackgroundPastor
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Notable personal detailsWilliam J. Forbes is a Democratic candidate who ran in the 2026 Nebraska Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. He is a pastor in Paxton, Nebraska, and has led New Life Lutheran Church there. Forbes filed as a challenger to incumbent Sen. Pete Ricketts and established the authorized committee Bill Forbes for Nebraska in March 2026.
SourcesShowHide
Political Positions
Healthcare
Has taken positions opposing abortion access; other specific policy positions on health coverage, Medicaid, or broader healthcare reform are not clearly documented in public campaign or official materials available from identified sources.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
William (Bill) Forbes has organized and campaigned for local ordinances that would outlaw abortion within municipal limits and support private enforcement mechanisms; he has worked with national anti-abortion organizers to advance local bans. His activism includes collecting petition signatures and publicly advocating for ordinances that criminalize abortion and assistance to obtain abortions, with limited or narrow exceptions in some drafts.
Latest News
William Forbes is in the news because he lost Nebraska’s Democratic Senate primary to Cindy Burbank, who is now the projected nominee. The race has also been tied to a broader Democratic effort to clear the field for independent Dan Osborn, with Forbes criticized by party leaders as a spoiler. Recent reporting focuses more on the nomination fight and ballot strategy than on Forbes himself, and the details around the final Democratic lineup remain unsettled.
Latest Polls
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.

Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Campaign Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Campaign finance totals from the latest available reporting period.
2026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements




