State Sen. Carol Blood confirms run for Congress in Nebraska's 1st District

State Sen. Carol Blood, a Democrat from Bellevue, confirmed she is running for Congress in 2024. Blood will attempt to challenge incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Flood of Norfolk, who has held the Nebraska District 1 seat since July 2022 after he won a special election triggered by the resignation of former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry.

Blood is expected to announce the launch of her campaign Saturday.

"Our Congress is in complete disarray and our Congressman Mike Flood has forgotten his non-partisan roots and ability to work across the aisle," Blood told Nebraska Public Media News. "I'm running because we can do better and bring back a strong voice in DC that represents all Nebraskans, not the vocal minority."

Blood says she will protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and she supports the refundable child tax credit and a competitive minimum wage.

Blood previously ran for governor in 2022 and lost to current Governor Jim Pillen by a 23 percent margin statewide, but won by slim margins in the state's two most populous counties — Douglas and Lancaster.