‘Who stands to benefit’: Fact-checking political ads in 2026 Nebraska elections

Politics expert said candidates use the primaries to lay the groundwork, which can lead to ambitious ads.

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The closer we get to the 2026 May primaries, the more aggressive candidates and political organizations are getting in advertisements, but how accurate is the information they claim in their ads?The 2026 Nebraska elections are unique to UNO Political Science expert Dr. Huchen Liu since NE-02 Congressman Don Bacon’s seat is up for grabs.“There is now a crowded field of Democratic contenders,” Dr. Liu said. “They try to emerge from the pack.”He said candidates use the primaries to lay the groundwork, which can lead to ambitious ads like this one.“Donald Trump has already gutted our health care, and now they’re spending $200 billion on the war in Iran because nobody in Congress is fighting for us,” a John Cavanaugh campaign ad that aired on TV.This claim from Democratic Congressional candidate John Cavanaugh’s campaign is misleading.The Trump administration has publicly discussed requesting $200 billion for “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran, but no official request has been made to the U.S. Appropriations Committee. A Harvard study estimates the war costs $2 billion per day, which would put the cost at around $100 billion. “2025 and 2026 cycle, which is polarized everywhere, it is all the more starkly national in the second district,” Liu said.Meta’s ad library reveals how much each candidate and political organization invests in ads on Facebook and Instagram.Fight for Nebraska spent between $10,000 to $15,000 on an ad at the beginning of April, which claimed, “If John Cavanaugh gets elected to Congress and leaves the state legislature, he’ll give Governor Pillen a super majority in Lincoln. That means MAGA republicans will have the votes to eliminate the blue dot.”This claim is speculative and needs context.If Cavanaugh wins the congressional seat, Gov. Jim Pillen—who is a Republican —would appoint his replacement. But Nebraska’s current unicameral makeup, though officially nonpartisan, already includes 33 Republicans, which is a supermajority. More than 20 Senate seats are up for election this November, so the number could change. Cavanaugh’s campaign team released a statement signed by six state senators, which states, “We firmly believe that Democrats will pick up legislative seats in 2026, which will offset the loss of John after her flips the Second Congressional District blue.”“A primary goal for ads is to define the opponent,” Liu said.You may have seen candidates popping up on various platforms, from scrolling social media to your computer, to your living room TV, with some ads ending in the popular phrase “I’m , and I approve this message.”Liu said this tactic creates accountability but could backfire.“The candidate’s veracity is at stake. Depending on how this ad is received,” he said.He said ad claims on an opponent’s campaign spending can get tricky.“Pete Ricketts is basically the ‘Lex Luther’ of Nebraska. He’s going to spend his money. In fact. He’s already spent $1.6 million a year and a half out from the election against me,” Dan Osborn claimed in an April social media ad.This claim is mostly false.A year and a half out from the election is technically May 3, 2025.We checked Pete Ricketts’ FEC report from June 2025, which shows $881,738 in total campaign spending at the time.However, the incumbent’s spending has ramped up, including more than $2 million in media buys since the fall.When we asked Osborn’s campaign about the numbers, they cited spending from One Nation and Ricketts for Senate dated from January through September 2025, which goes beyond the technical midpoint.“What implications the influx of that money has on the accountability of candidates, if they do succeed in winning?” Liu said.He’s talking about PACs or political action committees.The committees can raise large sums of money and give to candidates of their choosing.Liu said it’s important to understand PACs may have a goal other than just getting a candidate elected, so it’s important to know what they stand for.You can check where PAC’s are donating on the FEC’s website.“It might just reveal to you who stands to benefit from that ad?” Liu said.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

OMAHA, Neb. —

The closer we get to the 2026 May primaries, the more aggressive candidates and political organizations are getting in advertisements, but how accurate is the information they claim in their ads?

The 2026 Nebraska elections are unique to UNO Political Science expert Dr. Huchen Liu since NE-02 Congressman Don Bacon’s seat is up for grabs.

“There is now a crowded field of Democratic contenders,” Dr. Liu said. “They try to emerge from the pack.”

He said candidates use the primaries to lay the groundwork, which can lead to ambitious ads like this one.

“Donald Trump has already gutted our health care, and now they’re spending $200 billion on the war in Iran because nobody in Congress is fighting for us,” a John Cavanaugh campaign ad that aired on TV.

This claim from Democratic Congressional candidate John Cavanaugh’s campaign is misleading.

The Trump administration has publicly discussed requesting $200 billion for “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran, but no official request has been made to the U.S. Appropriations Committee.

A Harvard study estimates the war costs $2 billion per day, which would put the cost at around $100 billion.

“2025 and 2026 cycle, which is polarized everywhere, it is all the more starkly national in the second district,” Liu said.

Meta’s ad library reveals how much each candidate and political organization invests in ads on Facebook and Instagram.

Fight for Nebraska spent between $10,000 to $15,000 on an ad at the beginning of April, which claimed, “If John Cavanaugh gets elected to Congress and leaves the state legislature, he’ll give Governor Pillen a super majority in Lincoln. That means MAGA republicans will have the votes to eliminate the blue dot.”

This claim is speculative and needs context.

If Cavanaugh wins the congressional seat, Gov. Jim Pillen—who is a Republican —would appoint his replacement.

But Nebraska’s current unicameral makeup, though officially nonpartisan, already includes 33 Republicans, which is a supermajority. More than 20 Senate seats are up for election this November, so the number could change.

Cavanaugh’s campaign team released a statement signed by six state senators, which states, “We firmly believe that Democrats will pick up legislative seats in 2026, which will offset the loss of John after her flips the Second Congressional District blue.”

“A primary goal for ads is to define the opponent,” Liu said.

You may have seen candidates popping up on various platforms, from scrolling social media to your computer, to your living room TV, with some ads ending in the popular phrase “I’m [insert candidate’s name], and I approve this message.”

Liu said this tactic creates accountability but could backfire.

“The candidate’s veracity is at stake. Depending on how this ad is received,” he said.

He said ad claims on an opponent’s campaign spending can get tricky.

“Pete Ricketts is basically the ‘Lex Luther’ of Nebraska. He’s going to spend his money. In fact. He’s already spent $1.6 million a year and a half out from the election against me,” Dan Osborn claimed in an April social media ad.

This claim is mostly false.

A year and a half out from the election is technically May 3, 2025.

We checked Pete Ricketts’ FEC report from June 2025, which shows $881,738 in total campaign spending at the time.

However, the incumbent’s spending has ramped up, including more than $2 million in media buys since the fall.

When we asked Osborn’s campaign about the numbers, they cited spending from One Nation and Ricketts for Senate dated from January through September 2025, which goes beyond the technical midpoint.

“What implications the influx of that money has on the accountability of candidates, if they do succeed in winning?” Liu said.

He’s talking about PACs or political action committees.

The committees can raise large sums of money and give to candidates of their choosing.

Liu said it’s important to understand PACs may have a goal other than just getting a candidate elected, so it’s important to know what they stand for.

You can check where PAC’s are donating on the FEC’s website.

“It might just reveal to you who stands to benefit from that ad?” Liu said.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.