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Republicans’ Antiestablishment Fervor Could Cost Republicans a Senate Seat

“People understand that we just have to hold our nose and vote for Deb Fischer,” said one Nebraska GOP county chair.

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Sen. Deb Fischer is lagging with some Trump-backing Republicans. Stephanie Scarbrough/AP

Nebraska Republicans are tired of the political establishment. That could spell trouble for the state’s Republican senator and the GOP’s ability to secure a significant Senate majority.

Sen. Deb Fischer, who’s seeking a third term, is shoring up support from the state GOP, prominent agriculture groups and others in her quest to hang onto her seat in a surprisingly competitive race. But she can’t seem to build up the same enthusiasm among the rightmost wing of her party, even as they eagerly head to the polls for former President Donald Trump.

Fischer leads independent candidate Dan Osborn in the polls by 1 percentage point, per a New York Times/Siena College poll at the end of October. Trump is doing much better in the state, leading Vice President Kamala Harris in the same poll by about 15 points.