Next month, candidates for Nebraska’s congressional seat in District 1 take the debate stage.
Republican Mike Flood and Democrat Carol Blood will debate multiple topics during the 60-minute debate at Nebraska Public Media's Ron Hull Studio in Lincoln on Sept. 15 at 2 p.m.
The debate, hosted by Nebraska Public Media, is in partnership with Nebraska Examiner, Omaha World-Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, and KRVN Rural Radio Network.
The Nebraska Examiner’s political reporter Aaron Sanderford will moderate the debate. Journalists from Nebraska Public Media, Lincoln Journal Star, and KRVN Rural Radio Network will join him on a panel asking questions on a variety of topics.
The debate will be broadcast live on Nebraska Public Media’s television, radio, and digital platforms, and rebroadcast on Nebraska Public Media television.
"We are excited to provide voters in Congressional District 1, and those around the state, an opportunity to hear what these candidates have to say," Nebraska Public Media News Director Jay Omar said. "I appreciate both candidates' willingness to participate and all the hard work put in by our media partners."
In 2022, voters elected Mike Flood twice. In June of that year, he narrowly defeated Patty Pansing Brooks with just under 53% of votes in a special election to fill the remainder of the term vacated by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry.
That November, Flood won by a wider margin, with nearly 58% of the votes, again winning against Pansing Brooks to secure a full two-year term.
Flood is a former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature and owns News Channel Nebraska.
During his first two years in Congress, he has criticized illegal immigration. He has argued that the Biden administration’s tax and spending policies contributed to inflation. He has embraced cryptocurrency and hosts a “Flyover Fintech” conference at UNL.
Blood was unopposed in the primary and automatically advanced to the general election as the Democrat candidate. She is currently a state senator representing District 3, which includes areas of Bellevue and Papillion. She has served in that role since 2016 and is term-limited after eight years in the Legislature.
Blood has been critical of the Congress she hopes to join, saying it’s on track to become the most unproductive in modern history.
Heading into November, Blood has stated Congress should act quicker on passing budgets.
Blood, who is also a former Bellevue City Council member, ran for Governor of Nebraska in 2022, losing to current Governor Jim Pillen.