2022 Nebraska's 1st congressional district special election

For broader coverage of this topic, see Nebraska's 1st congressional district.

2022 Nebraska's 1st congressional district special election

←  2020 June 28, 2022 November 2022  →
Nebraska's 1st congressional district
Turnout	28.44% [1]
Nominee Mike Flood Patty Pansing Brooks Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 61,017 54,783 Percentage 52.7% 47.3%
Results by county Flood:     50–60%     60–70%     80–90% Brooks:     50–60%
U.S. Representative before election Jeff Fortenberry Republican Elected U.S. Representative Mike Flood Republican

The 2022 Nebraska's 1st congressional district special election, which was held on June 28, 2022, was triggered when Republican representative Jeff Fortenberry resigned on March 31, having been convicted of lying to the FBI about campaign contributions. ^{[2] [3]}

Under Nebraska state law, major party nominees for special elections are selected by the party through its executive committee or party convention, with the special election scheduled by Governor Pete Ricketts within 90 days after the seat's vacancy. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

The election came under some controversy over the discovery that it would be held in the new post-2020 redistricting Nebraska's 1st congressional district. While some Nebraska officials claimed that the new map took immediate effect when signed, this was not in line with congressional rules which only recognized pre-2020 redistricting boundaries for the rest of 2022. It also caused confusion among Nebraska residents wanting to vote in the election or receive constituent services, especially as congressional funds are not allowed to be spent outside the recognized old district boundaries. ^[7]

Against a backdrop of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling four days before the election which overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade case on abortion, Republican nominee Mike Flood promoted his sponsorship of a 2010 Nebraska state law which banned abortions 20 weeks after fertilization in a campaign ad. Meanwhile, Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks highlighted her support for abortion rights, criticizing the Dobbs decision as an "assault on privacy" and "a step backward in American culture", and remarked that the election was the first instance where "we can fight back at the ballot box". ^{[8] [9]}

After a campaign described by the Norfolk Daily News as "mostly positive" with "lighthearted" ads, Flood declared victory at 10:23 pm CDT, two hours after polls closed, promising to fight inflation, for which he blamed the policies of the Biden administration.

In light of the competitiveness of the election, (early results had shown Flood trailing Pansing Brooks) Nebraska Democratic Party chair Jane Kleeb released a statement that the national Democratic Party needed to invest more in rural areas considered to be "unwinnable" and that Pansing Brooks "connected with voters". ^{[10] [11]}

Both candidates faced each other again in the November regular election.

Candidates

The Democratic and Republican nominees were selected by their respective party's executive committee on April 5 and April 9, respectively. Mike Flood defeated John Glen Weaver through the party's secret ballot 24 to Weaver's 5 votes. ^[12]

Nominees

• Patty Pansing Brooks (Democratic), state senator ^{[13] [14]}
• Mike Flood (Republican), state senator (2005–2013, 2021–2022), former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature (2007–2013), and candidate for governor in 2014 ^[15]

General election

Endorsements

Mike Flood (R)

U.S. Senators

• Deb Fischer, U.S. Senator from Nebraska (2013–present) ^[16]

U.S. Representatives

• Don Bacon, U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district (2017–present) ^[16]
• Tom Osborne, former U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 3rd congressional district (2001–2007) ^[17]
• Adrian Smith, U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 3rd congressional district (2007–present) ^[16]

State governors

• Dave Heineman, 39th governor of Nebraska (2005–2015) ^[18]
• Pete Ricketts, 40th governor of Nebraska (2015–2023) ^[18]

Organizations

• Americans for Prosperity ^[16]
• National Right to Life Committee ^[16]
• United States Chamber of Commerce ^[19]

Patty Pansing Brooks (D)

U.S. Senators

• Bob Kerrey, former U.S. Senator from Nebraska (1989–2001) and 35th governor of Nebraska (1983–1987) ^[20]
• Ben Nelson, former U.S. Senator from Nebraska (2001–2013) and 37th governor of Nebraska (1991–1999) ^[21]

U.S. Representatives

• John Joseph Cavanaugh III, former U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district (1977–1981) ^[16]

State officials

• Maxine Moul, 34th lieutenant governor of Nebraska (1991–1993) ^[16]
• Kim Robak, 35th lieutenant governor of Nebraska (1993–1999) ^[16]

State legislators

• Roy Baker, former state senator (2015–2019) ^[16]
• Carol Blood, state senator (2017–present) and gubernatorial nominee in 2022 ^[16]
• John Cavanaugh, state senator (2021–present) ^[16]
• Machaela Cavanaugh, state senator (2019–present) ^[16]
• Danielle Conrad, former state senator (2007–2015) ^[16]
• Al Davis, former state senator (2013–2017) ^[16]
• Jen Day, state senator (2021–present) ^[16]
• Ken Haar, former state senator (2009–2017) ^[16]
• Matt Hansen, state senator (2015–present) ^[16]
• Megan Hunt, state senator (2019–present) ^[16]
• Steve Lathrop, state senator (2007–2015; 2019–present) ^[16]
• John S. McCollister, state senator (2015–present) (Republican) ^[22]
• Terrell McKinney, state senator (2021–present) ^[16]
• Adam Morfeld, state senator (2015–present) ^[16]
• Dan Quick, former state senator (2007–2021) ^[16]
• DiAnna Schimek, former state senator (1989–2009) ^[16]
• Paul Schumacher, former state senator (2011–2019) ^[16]
• Sandy Scofield, former state senator ^[16]
• Tony Vargas, state senator (2007–present) and nominee for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in 2022 ^[16]
• Lynne Walz, state senator (2007–present) ^[16]
• Bob Wickersham, former state senator (1991–2001) ^[16]

Municipal officials

• Leirion Gaylor Baird, incumbent mayor of Lincoln (2019–present) ^[23]
• Tanya Cook, member of Metropolitan Utilities District Board of Directors Subdivision 5 (2020–present) and former state senator (2009–2017) ^[16]
• Jane Raybould, Lincoln City Councilwoman, former Lancaster County Commissioner and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014 and governor in 2018 ^[16]
• Don Wesely, former mayor of Lincoln (1999–2003) ^[16]

Individuals

• Chuck Hassebrook, Executive Director of the Center for Rural Affairs, former Regent of the University of Nebraska, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012 and nominee for governor in 2014 ^[16]
• Susanne Shore, wife of Governor Pete Ricketts ^[8]

Labor unions

• Nebraska State AFL–CIO ^[24]
• Nebraska State Education Association ^[25]

Organizations

• Planned Parenthood Action Fund ^[26]
• Sierra Club Nebraska chapter ^[27]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [28]	Solid R	April 29, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball [29]	Safe R	March 30, 2022
Politico [30]	Solid R	April 5, 2022
RCP [31]	Safe R	June 9, 2022

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports
Candidate	Amount raised	Amount spent	Cash on hand
Mike Flood (R)	$1,382,863	$1,383,509	$1,090
Patty Pansing Brooks (D)	$1,040,022	$686,027	$353,996
Source: OpenSecrets [32]

Results

Pansing Brooks's vote share was boosted by a higher-than-expected turnout in Lancaster County, home to state capital Lincoln, where she served as state senator, with the second-highest turnout of all counties. ^[1] She also came within a five-point margin of winning the suburban Omaha county of Sarpy. Meanwhile, Flood's victory was the result of him winning more rural counties in the district. ^[33] Pansing Brooks's outperformance of Biden in the district, in spite of being outspent by Flood, prompted some Democratic strategists to paint the results as a moral victory in a "post-Roe" era. ^{[9] [34]} In reaction to the results, Flood acknowledged the need for him to increase his support in the Lincoln area and suburban Omaha. ^[9]

2022 Nebraska's 1st congressional district special election ^[33]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mike Flood	61,017	52.69	-6.83
	Democratic	Patty Pansing Brooks	54,783	47.31	+9.64
Total votes			115,800	100.00
	Republican hold

By county

County Mike Flood Republican Patty Pansing Brooks Democratic Margin Total votes Turnout # % # % # % Butler 1,185 82.12 258 17.88 927 64.24 1,443 25.63 Cass 2,753 64.44 1,519 35.56 1,234 28.89 4,272 22.52 Colfax 847 85.30 146 14.70 701 70.60 993 18.93 Cuming 1,164 83.62 228 16.38 936 67.24 1,392 23.91 Dodge 3,440 64.63 1,883 35.37 1,557 29.25 5,323 24.17 Lancaster 31,054 43.04 41,104 56.96 10,050 13.93 72,158 36.09 Madison 4,759 84.36 882 15.64 3,877 68.73 5,641 25.79 Platte 4,379 83.52 864 16.48 3,515 67.04 5,243 25.59 Polk 387 82.52 82 17.48 305 65.04 469 27.41 Sarpy (part) 7,483 52.65 6,729 47.35 754 5.31 14,212 15.75 Seward 1,946 69.06 872 30.94 1,074 38.02 2,818 24.70 Stanton 1,620 88.24 216 11.76 1,404 76.48 1,836 48.46 Totals 61,017 52.69 54,783 47.31 6,234 5.38 115,800 28.44

See also

• 2022 United States House of Representatives elections
• 2022 United States elections
• 117th United States Congress
• List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives

References

1. "Nebraska Secretary of State - Voter Turnout". electionresults.nebraska.gov. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
2. Alfaro, Mariana; Paúl, María Luisa (March 26, 2022). "Rep. Fortenberry to resign after being found guilty of lying to FBI". Washington Post . Retrieved March 26, 2022.
3. Earl, David (March 24, 2022). "Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry convicted for lying to FBI about foreign campaign contribution". KETV. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
4. "Nebraska Revised Statute 32-564". Nebraska Legislature . Retrieved March 27, 2022.
5. "Nebraska Revised Statute 32-627". Nebraska Legislature . Retrieved March 27, 2022.
6. "June 28 special election set for Nebraska's US Congressional District 1 seat". April 2, 2022.
7. Cioffi, Chris (July 6, 2022). "Nebraska quirk used new map to fill House vacancy last month". Roll Call . Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
8. Padmore, William; Bauer, Will (June 28, 2022). "Flood Wins Special Election for Nebraska's 1st Congressional District". Nebraska Public Media . Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
9. Schulte, Grant; Price, Michelle L. (June 29, 2022). "Democrats energized by tight race in GOP-leaning Nebraska". Associated Press . Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
10. "'Friends, we did it,' as Flood wins special election". Norfolk Daily News . June 29, 2022. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
11. Schulte, Grant; Melley, Brian (June 29, 2022). "Nebraska GOP state Sen. Flood wins ex-congressman's seat". WFMZ-TV . Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
12. Cooper, Keegan; Kristianto, Josh (April 10, 2022). "Mike Flood named Republican nominee for special election to fill 1st Congressional District vacancy". KETV . Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
13. "US Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska announces resignation". WJXT . Associated Press. March 26, 2022. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022. Flood and Pansing Brooks will both run in the special election to fill the seat..
14. "Democrats nominate Patty Pansing Brooks for special election to replace Fortenberry". Omaha World-Herald . April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022. Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks will vie to serve the rest of former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry's term in a June special election, after accepting the Democratic Party's nomination.
15. "Nebraska GOP picks Mike Flood as special election candidate". KNOP News 2. April 9, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
16. "Patty Pansing Brooks announces long list of bipartisan endorsements". KOLN . June 4, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
17. Kelly, David (February 4, 2022). "FLOOD PULLS IN OSBORNE ENDORSEMENT" . Retrieved March 27, 2022.
18. "Pete Ricketts and Dave Heineman endorse Mike Flood for Congress". www.1011now.com. KOLN. January 21, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
19. "U.S. Chamber of Commerce hands Flood early endorsement". April 19, 2022.
20. "Pansing Brooks Endorsed By Kerrey". KIOS-FM . April 1, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
21. "Former U.S. Senator Ben Nelson endorses Patty Pansing Brooks for Congress". www.1011now.com. KOLN . Retrieved April 22, 2022.
22. "Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks will seek Fortenberry's House seat".
23. Dorn, Nolan (March 9, 2022). "Lincoln Mayor Gaylor Baird endorses Sen. Pansing Brooks for Congress". KLKN-TV. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
24. "LABOR: Elections 2022". April 5, 2022.
25. "State teachers union endorses primary election candidates".
26. Dorn, Nolan (June 13, 2022). "Planned Parenthood endorses Patty Pansing Brooks, Tony Vargas for Congress". KLKN . Retrieved June 13, 2022.
27. "Political Endorsements". Sierra Club Nebraska Chapter. January 2017.
28. Dave Wasserman (April 29, 2022). "May 10 Primary Preview: House Races to Watch" . Retrieved May 3, 2022.
29. Kondik, Kyle (March 30, 2022). "Notes on the State of Politics: March 30, 2022" . Retrieved March 30, 2022.
30. "2022 Election Forecast". Politico. April 5, 2022.
31. "Battle for the House 2022". RCP. June 9, 2022.
32. "Nebraska District 01 2022 Special Election". OpenSecrets . Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
33. "Nebraska Secretary of State - Election Night Results". electionresults.nebraska.gov. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
34. Donnini, Zachary (June 29, 2022). "DDHQ Election Day Spotlight: Good Day for MAGA in IL, but Underwhelming Performance in NE-01 Mars Night for GOP". Decision Desk HQ . Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.