Two Democrats face off in 1st District Primary, incumbent Republican Mike Flood and Libertarian run unopposed

Affordability, health care and immigration are among the top issues candidates in Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District race are focused on ahead of the primary election in May.

Republican Mike Flood has held the seat since 2022. The incumbent is running unopposed on the GOP ticket, but two Democrats and one Libertarian are vying for a chance to take the seat.

The 1st Congressional District covers 12 counties in eastern Nebraska. The area includes Omaha suburbs Bellevue and Papillion and the cities of Lincoln, Fremont, Columbus and Norfolk. The district also includes Offutt Air Force Base and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In 2025, constituents at Rep. Flood’s town halls in Seward, Columbus and Lincoln last year voiced opposition to cuts to Medicaid and veteran’s services in the One Big Beautiful Bill. At the Lincoln town hall, people questioned using taxpayer dollars for ICE arrests and new immigration detainment centers.

Students at Fremont High School led a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement in January, which went sideways when a driver carrying a President Trump 2024 campaign flag hit a protester. Although the candidates shared differing views on immigration enforcement, all candidates emphasized the need for safe protesting.

District 1 includes a wide array of rural and urban economies, and candidates shared their differing opinions on President Donald Trump’s tariff policy.

Mike Flood campaigns on tax cuts, immigration and housing

Flood was reelected in 2024, defeating Democrat State Sen. Carol Blood by more than 20 percentage points.

Flood won a general election and special election in 2022, both against Patty Pansing Brooks. Days after abortion rights were overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022, Flood won the special election with less than 53% of the vote.

Growing up in Norfolk, Flood is an attorney and started the radio and television network News Channel Nebraska. He served in the state Legislature from 2005 to 2013, including being elected as Speaker of the Legislature in 2007, and a shortened term in 2021 before running for Congress.

Flood said if reelected, he will prioritize improving the economy inherited from former President Joe Biden and emphasized work done to secure the southern border.

“From serving in the Unicameral to serving in Congress, my goal has always been to get results that help Nebraska families,” Flood said in a press release announcing his run for reelection. “That’s why I voted for the largest tax cut in American history and helped pass historic funding to secure our southern border.”

Flood’s campaign noted high inflation, specifically gas prices under Biden, is a work-in-progress.

“But our work is far from finished. I’m leading efforts to lower housing costs and advance commonsense solutions that make life more affordable for Nebraska families,” Flood said. “With the support of Nebraskans, I’ll continue driving meaningful change in Washington and getting results for Nebraska families.”

A Flood spokesperson said Trump’s tariff policy is used as a tool to bring jobs to Americans, adding that Flood and Congressional Republicans have a record of cutting taxes.

Housing affordability has been a recurring discussion point for Flood’s campaign. This cycle, he’s touting bipartisan efforts to reform housing policy, including a bill he co-sponsored called the “Housing for the 21st Century Act.” He told Nebraska Public Media News through a spokesperson young Nebraskans are struggling to fulfill the American Dream of owning a home.

“I worked with people on both sides of the aisle to address this concern and help pass a landmark bipartisan bill that will make housing more affordable for Nebraskans," Flood said.

The bill was passed by the House on Feb. 9. The proposal would exempt certain housing projects from environmental review and reduce barriers to housing aid for veterans, among other things.

Flood also supports enforcing immigration laws in a way that honors the Constitution and keeps Americans safe, a spokesperson said. He added “China is a surveillance state,” highlighting legislation passed to fund national security.

The incumbent was endorsed by Trump in 2024.

Flood has raised more than $1.5 million so far this election, according to the Federal Election Commission. His campaign raised about $2 million in 2024.

Energy security tops Moyer’s priorities, also covers economy, immigration

Eric Moyer, a Lincoln man in the renewable energy industry, announced his run to represent the 1st Congressional District in August. At the time, the registered Democrat said his main concern was energy security through domestic production. He added that Nebraska can utilize natural resources like sunlight, water and wind.

“I want to support legislation that allows for domestic energy production to come back, and reverse the cuts that were made in the 'Big Beautiful Bill' that are going to damage wind and solar industry, as well as a renewed focus on nuclear,” Moyer said when he announced his candidacy.

Moyer worked as a strategic development manager and regional operations manager in Nelnet’s renewable energy department. Before Nelnet, he worked for a Lincoln solar energy company. He’s advocated for renewable energy funding for several years. In 2023, he spoke in support of a bill at the Nebraska legislature that would have sought federal money to help make homes more energy efficient.

Additionally, Moyer wants to see improvements in agriculture through equitable crop insurance subsidies, funding climate hubs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and allowing farmers to repair their own equipment.

He also wants to create a reformed pathway to citizenship. Moyer criticized President Trump’s February State of the Union on Facebook, specifically pointing out his comments on immigration and the economy.

“From immigration to the economy, we are being asked to believe a fantasy crafted in the addled mind of a charlatan,” Moyer said. “Delusion is not leadership.”

Moyer’s priorities also include a better economy for Nebraskans, including fair wages and protection of Social Security benefits.

“The economy right now is not working for everybody in the state of Nebraska, and when we look at legislation like the ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ we got tax cuts for folks at the top of the food chain,” Moyer said in August. “It doesn’t trickle down. That’s a fallacy that’s been pushed since the 1980s, and we got to get away from it.”

Moyer also signed on a pledge aiming to create a national medical cannabis program. Nebraska voters approved two ballot measures in 2024 to legalize and regulate medical marijuana. Since then, the process has been slow going to get medical cannabis going.

“Nebraska voted,” Moyer said on Facebook. “Republican lawmakers ignored us, so it’s time to take this fight to U.S. Congress.”

Moyer graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a master’s degree in marketing, communications and advertising. His bachelor’s degree is in fine and performing arts. He has taken part in local theater productions with the Lied Center for Performing Arts and the Angels Theatre Company. Moyer grew up in Madison, located in northeastern Nebraska.

Moyer has raised more than $20,000 so far, according to the FEC.

Backemeyer highly critical of Flood, prioritizes affordability in campaign

Chris Backemeyer, a Democrat, moved back to Lincoln in October after working for the State Department in Washington, D.C. for two decades. A month later, he announced his run for Congress.

In his campaign announcement video, Backemeyer said politics wasn’t his plan, but that he can’t stand by “while our country goes off course.”

He pointed to trade wars with China that are hurting farmers and criticized a White House expansion while insurance premiums increase.

One of Backemeyer’s main priorities is affordability, with a focus on making changes to the system.

“What keeps me up at night is the same thing that keeps a lot of people up at night,” he said in a Facebook post. “You work hard, you do everything right — but housing, healthcare, and childcare keep getting further out of reach. And saving for the future feels impossible.”

Backemeyer has opposed cuts to USAID and health care, especially cuts that are hurting rural hospitals.

He has also been critical of Mike Flood. His campaign video started out with Backemeyer saying the “One Big Beautiful Bill” gives trillions to billionaires and then asking Flood “who he works for.” Backemeyer used the clip to highlight his campaign focus of working for the people.

Backemeyer is also critical of President Trump. On Facebook, Backemeyer called out the tariffs that Trump promoted during his State of the Union address.

“Tonight was an opportunity to lay out a real plan to tackle the high costs facing Nebraskans and families across America,” Backemeyer said on Facebook. “Instead, President Trump and Mike Flood doubled down on the same failed tariff policies, pushing falsehoods and ignoring reality.”

He criticized Nebraska’s choice to hand over voter data to the U.S. Department of Justice, saying it will undermine future elections. Backemeyer also called out Nebraska’s congressional delegation for their lack of medical cannabis protections stopping federal interference, even after voters approved it for the state.

“They talk about ‘respecting the will of the people,’ but when it comes to protecting medical cannabis patients, those works ring hollow,” he said on Facebook.

Backemeyer worked as a senior State Department negotiator for former President Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal in 2015 and served as a national security advisor to former Vice President Kamala Harris. He worked in several roles in the State Department, mainly focused on diplomatic efforts with Iran. The candidate returned to Nebraska after accepting a buyout from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency that aimed to reduce the federal government workforce.

He holds a master’s degree in international affairs from the University of California San Diego and bachelor’s degrees in finance and political science from Arizona State University.

Backemeyer has fundraised more than $157,000 so far, according to the FEC.

Nik Sandman focused on farm subsidies, supporting health care

Nik Sandman, a Libertarian, told Nebraska Public Media News that he is most passionate about life, including supporting health care for all and pushing against abortion and euthanasia.

He compared how he believes the government should provide health care to the way it provides roads — the government should fund and build them and allow people the freedom to use them. He called the current health care system dysfunctional and believes there is a way for the government to help without overstepping.

Sandman has lived in Lincoln since 2013. He moved from Wauneta, a village in southwestern Nebraska, where he worked as a farmer for 26 years and a rural mail carrier for about 15 years. While living in Wauneta, Sandman was on the Wauneta-Palisade School Board for a few years in the 1990s. He spent one year as a mail carrier in Lincoln before retiring in 2014.

A year later, Sandman started KNNA 97.5FM The Cross, a radio station based at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lincoln. The station broadcasts Lutheran programs such as Issues, Etc. and the Lutheran Hour. It also has a music program that plays songs from the 1920s to the 1950s.

If elected, Sandman said he wants to bring light to issues he feels are not discussed enough in politics, such as the farm program. He specifically pointed out farm subsidies, saying they have turned out to be a deadly decision since the 1950s. He added that the Chicago Board of Trade is setting rates when it should be farmers.

He also said the $12 billion farm aid package under the Trump administration was not enough to help farmers, and he called the money amount “crumbs.” Sandman wants to see farmers being able to make a living and a reasonable profit in farming.

Sandman also said he’s concerned about censorship, especially under the government. He added that people’s basic political speech is being threatened when they criticize a certain foreign country.

The Libertarian candidate sees himself as an advocate for the U.S. Constitution. He said he is looking forward to protecting people’s freedoms that are laid out in the founding document. The Libertarian party is focused on the idea that people should be free to make their own choices as long as it doesn’t hurt another person’s freedom.

Sandman received his undergraduate degree from UNL in philosophy. He attributes his interest in philosophy as part of the reason he is running for office, specifically pointing to Plato and Aristotle, who had interests in politics.

He hasn’t reported any fundraising as of early March.

Important election dates

Nebraska’s 2026 primary election is Tuesday, May 12. It will narrow the field of candidates ahead of the general election, which will be Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Voting begins when county election offices start mailing early voting ballots on March 27 to Nebraskans and military members overseas. County election offices start mailing early voting ballots on April 3 to registered voters in Nebraska. Voters can cast their ballots early, in person at their respective county election office starting April 13. Voting in person at county election offices will end Monday, May 11. All early voting ballots are due back to county election offices by the close of polls on election day. Ballots received after the polls close will not be accepted.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time on election day, Tuesday, May 12. Voters can locate their polling place online at Nebraska’s VoterCheck system, as well as verify their voter registration information is up to date and preview their ballot once those are finalized by county election offices.

There are two voting registration deadlines ahead of the primary election. April 27 is the final day Nebraskans can update their voter registration information or register to vote online, by mail, at the DMV, via personal agent or via deputy registrar. May 1is the final day Nebraskans can update their voter registration or register to vote in person at their respective county election offices.

This will be the second statewide election cycle with Nebraska’s voter ID law, which requires voters to present a photo ID before casting a ballot. Voters can complete that process when they submit their requests to vote early by mail, or they can present their photo ID before they cast their ballots at county election offices or at the polls.

Voters who have questions about voting in this year’s election can contact their respective county election office by phone or email.