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Nebraska's 1st Congressional District election, 2022 (May 10 Republican primary)

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2024
2020
Nebraska's 1st Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: February 15, 2022/March 1, 2022
Primary: May 10, 2022
General: November 8, 2022
How to vote
Poll times: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central time zone); 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Mountain time zone)
Voting in Nebraska
Race ratings
Cook Partisan Voter Index (2022): R+9
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2022
See also
Nebraska's 1st Congressional District
1st2nd3rd
Nebraska elections, 2022
U.S. Congress elections, 2022
U.S. Senate elections, 2022
U.S. House elections, 2022

Mike Flood defeated former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, Curtis Huffman, John Glen Weaver, and Thireena Yuki Connely in the Republican primary election for Nebraska's 1st Congressional District on May 10, 2022. This was the first contested Republican primary in the 1st District since 2014 and the first after Fortenberry was found guilty in a federal trial stemming from a 2016 campaign finance investigation.

Fortenberry resigned from Congress on March 31 following his conviction.[1] Fortenberry's name remained on the May primary ballot because the deadline to withdraw had already passed.[2]

Before Fortenberry's conviction, media attention focused on Fortenberry and Flood. The Lincoln Journal Star's Don Walton described the primary as "the first bigtime GOP primary battle in the eastern Nebraska congressional district since ... 2004."[3]

Flood was a member of the Nebraska Senate. He first served in the chamber from 2005 to 2013 and was elected again in 2020. Flood highlighted Fortenberry's indictment, saying, "If our nominee has to focus on beating felony criminal charges instead of defeating a serious Democrat opponent, we risk defeat in November."[4] Flood said he would "fight the Biden-Pelosi agenda at every turn, stopping their attempts to bankrupt our country with socialist giveaways that will destroy our economy."[5] Flood also promoted endorsements he received from Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) and former Gov. Dave Heineman (R).[6]

The 1st District is located in eastern Nebraska surrounding the outskirts of Omaha and including population centers like Lincoln, Norfolk, and Columbus. While district lines have changed, Republicans have represented the 1st District continuously since 1967. From 2006 to 2020, Fortenberry's average margin of victory was 32 percentage points. After redistricting in 2021, the 1st District changed from an R+21 lean to an R+17 lean, according to FiveThirtyEight.[7]

Curtis Huffman (R), John Glen Weaver (R), and Thireena Yuki Connely (R) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Click on a candidate's name to view that candidate's responses.

This page focuses on Nebraska's 1st Congressional District Republican primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Democratic primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Election news

Click below to view a timeline leading up to the election, including polling, debates, and other noteworthy events.

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Candidates and election results

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Incumbent Mike Flood defeated Jeffrey Fortenberry (Unofficially withdrew), John Glen Weaver, Thireena Yuki Connely, and Curtis Huffman in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on May 10, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mike Flood
Mike Flood
 
73.9
 
61,265
Image of Jeffrey Fortenberry
Jeffrey Fortenberry (Unofficially withdrew)
 
11.8
 
9,807
Image of John Glen Weaver
John Glen Weaver Candidate Connection
 
6.6
 
5,470
Thireena Yuki Connely Candidate Connection
 
4.0
 
3,353
Image of Curtis Huffman
Curtis Huffman Candidate Connection
 
3.7
 
3,062

Total votes: 82,957
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Candidate comparison

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Image of Mike Flood

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office: 

Biography:  Flood received a bachelor's degree in American Studies from Notre Dame and a law degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. At the time of the primary, he was a partner at a Norfolk law firm and owned a network of radio stations. Flood served as speaker of the state Senate from 2007 to 2013.



Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.


In his campaign announcement, Flood highlighted Fortenberry's indictment, saying, "If our nominee has to focus on beating felony criminal charges instead of defeating a serious Democrat opponent, we risk defeat in November."


Flood said, "The radical, socialist agenda ... has already driven up prices," adding that he would "fight the Biden-Pelosi agenda at every turn, stopping their attempts to bankrupt our country with socialist giveaways that will destroy the economy."


Flood said he had a "record of business and conservative policy accomplishments," saying that, in the Senate, he "passed the most sweeping abortion ban in America, historic tax relief, and concealed carry."


Show sources

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 in 2022.

Image of Jeffrey Fortenberry

WebsiteTwitter

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Biography:  Fortenberry received a bachelor's degree in economics from Louisiana State University in 1982. He also received graduate degrees in public policy and theology. Before entering office, Fortenberry was an executive at a publishing company in Lincoln and previously worked as a policy analyst in the U.S. Senate.



Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.


Fortenberry listed his priorities as "economic security, national security, and family security," saying he had background experience "in economics, public policy and small business."


Fortenberry said he had delivered results in office and that would continue, saying, "we will get things done ... to strengthen our national security, stop devastating healthcare costs, and build a new vision for jobs, our environment, and our communities."


Fortenberry compared Mike Flood to President Joe Biden (D) in a campaign ad, saying the two shared a position on immigration.Fortenberry said, "Mike Flood supported giving taxpayer-funded tax credits to illegal immigrants."


Show sources

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 in 2022.

Image of Curtis Huffman

Facebook

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "My name is Curtis Huffman, and I was born and raised in Papillion, NE. I enlisted into the USAF in 1998 and served in the Security Forces Career Field and in 2002 finished my Criminal Justice Degree. I Retired from Active Duty in 2018 at the Rank of MSgt, and then went back to college and completed an Accounting Degree. My Wife and I will have our 23rd year anniversary this year and we have two children ages 21 and 19. It is time We the People must stand and fight for our freedoms. With my Law Enforcement and Accounting background I feel I am uniquely suited to address our nations fiscal issues."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Term Limits. I believe that we need term limits because many of our current politicians have spent 20+ years building their empires and will say anything just to get re-elected. I think that our elected officials should go to D.C., serve the will of their constituents, and try to leave our federal government better than they found it and then step aside and let others carry on the torch. Our elected officials were never meant to create a political elite class and spend a lifetime protecting their own interests instead of the interests of We the People. "Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts absolutely"


Protecting the 2nd Amendment. During My 20 Year Career in Security Forces, about 8 years of it I was a Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Instructor. I repaired all the USAF types of Firearms, and I am very familiar with the differences between them and the Civilian versions. I am tired of hearing politicians that are ignorant about firearms continue to lie to the American people just because they say an AR-15 looks scary. The Second Amendment is the only tool we have that stands in the breach between us being citizens of a free country or us being subjects of our government.


Limited Federal Government. With the amount of spending that our government is doing there is no longer a can to kick down the road. We must stop the out-of-control spending and get our fiscal house back into order. We need people in D.C. that have the will to take the necessary steps to cut this massive spending and look at where we can cut the size and scope of the federal government. I believe that our federal government must return the power they have taken from the State 's.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 in 2022.

Image of John Glen Weaver

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "22 yrs Air Force (1999 - 2022) Lt Col, 11 deployments, combat veteran of Iraq & Afghanistan, farmer, Real Estate businessman, married with wife and daughter. No political experience and not beholden to anyone but the people of the 1st Congressional District. The desire to continue my service to my country and community is why I am running."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Border security. We must secure our borders and stop the flow of illegal immigrants. I support a wall, national ID card, and legal immigration policies.


Pro-life, True Conservative. All lives are precious. We must stop drug overdoses from the flow of drugs across the border. We must overturn Roe v. Wade.


National Security. America is exceptional and we must provide the world leadership. I would expand Offutt AFB / USSTRATCOM missions by adding the B21 & NC3 systems

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 in 2022.

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "I am a homeschool mother and a writer. I was born to a Nebraskan marine and a Japanese teacher. I write school curricula and am also a published author. Throughout the week, I teach dance, gymnastics, and group fitness. As a patriot and a Constitutionalist, I want America to get back on track to what the founding fathers had envisioned for us."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


I want to get American spending in check


Our children deserve education, not indoctrination


We need to ensure that our rights won't be chipped away

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 in 2022.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Expand all | Collapse all

Term Limits. I believe that we need term limits because many of our current politicians have spent 20+ years building their empires and will say anything just to get re-elected. I think that our elected officials should go to D.C., serve the will of their constituents, and try to leave our federal government better than they found it and then step aside and let others carry on the torch. Our elected officials were never meant to create a political elite class and spend a lifetime protecting their own interests instead of the interests of We the People. "Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts absolutely"

Protecting the 2nd Amendment. During My 20 Year Career in Security Forces, about 8 years of it I was a Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Instructor. I repaired all the USAF types of Firearms, and I am very familiar with the differences between them and the Civilian versions. I am tired of hearing politicians that are ignorant about firearms continue to lie to the American people just because they say an AR-15 looks scary. The Second Amendment is the only tool we have that stands in the breach between us being citizens of a free country or us being subjects of our government.

Limited Federal Government. With the amount of spending that our government is doing there is no longer a can to kick down the road. We must stop the out-of-control spending and get our fiscal house back into order. We need people in D.C. that have the will to take the necessary steps to cut this massive spending and look at where we can cut the size and scope of the federal government. I believe that our federal government must return the power they have taken from the State 's.
Border security. We must secure our borders and stop the flow of illegal immigrants. I support a wall, national ID card, and legal immigration policies.

Pro-life, True Conservative. All lives are precious. We must stop drug overdoses from the flow of drugs across the border. We must overturn Roe v. Wade.

National Security. America is exceptional and we must provide the world leadership. I would expand Offutt AFB / USSTRATCOM missions by adding the B21 & NC3 systems
I want to get American spending in check

Our children deserve education, not indoctrination

We need to ensure that our rights won't be chipped away
There is one simple question that must be asked before voting on any legislation. That question is "Who Benefits?" and if the overwhelming answer is not, We the People benefit then I would have to vote NO.
National Security, Foreign Policy, and Defense: America is the leader of the free world and we are exceptional and we won't back down from this responsibility. I flew combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan and I will never forget the atrocities of September 11th, and what occurs when you allow terrorists to operate freely in ungoverned areas like Afghanistan. We must continue to take the fight to terrorists around the world. We must also shift our focus to deterring Russian aggression. I believe we should expand our missions (B-21 Bomber and NC3) at Offutt AFB to deter Russia and China. I have spent my life defending and fighting for this nation.

Pro-Life. As a country, we must place more value on LIFE. I believe that each life (born and unborn) is created by God for a special, unique purpose, and that every life has inherent value. Being pro-life goes beyond politics. It is a foundational, moral position on the side of humanity. I will fight for LIFE.

Immigration and Border security. Border security must come first, before we have any other conversation about immigration policies. Enough is enough, let’s enforce our laws and build a wall and establish a national ID card system. We should not only build the wall but also ramp up tech-savvy ways to secure our border, like drones and sensors. My 22+ years serving in national security makes me uniquely qualified to assess different proposals and find the right solution.

First and Second Amendment rights, fiscal policy, education, government overreach, immigratioin
I look up to great military leaders like Eisenhower, Grant, and George Washington.
I have always looked up to Ted Cruz and Rand Paul since I was young. I see them standing up for our freedoms and the common people which is something that we need in government. I have also been following Ron DeSantis and applaud him on his recent bills even with backlash and harsh critisism.
"On the House" by John Boehner and "It Doesn't Hurt to Ask" by Trey Goudy.
Arguing with Idiots - Glenn Beck
In the USAF we have core values of Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in all we do. I think D.C. Needs more of those values.
Honesty, Integrity, and Service before self
I think values are the most powerful of all. Someone who has specific values should always stick to what they think is right, even in the face of strong opinions. I also would want transparency. I know that things may require a security clearance, but the people always deserve to easily obtain any information that is pertinent to them.
I think that to be a successful office holder one must always remember that the power and influence is only loaned out to you by your voters. Also, one must have integrity and be honest.
I have a desire to continue my service to my community and country. I am honest and have integrity.
I have a strong opinion and if you talk to me one on one, you'll see that I won't water it down. I'll always stand for what I believe in.
To selflessly serve the people 100% of the time.
To fight for the people. Without a fight, the government would soon overrun the country.
To help raise up all the people in Nebraska and to take care of our military and veterans.
I would love to see the country get back to faith, freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I would want to be the one known to offend and step on people's toes to get that done.
I was in elementary school when the 1986 space shuttle challenger exploded. I remember that our teacher wheeled in a TV to the classroom and everyone was so silent and shocked about what was going on.
The first historical event that happened in my lifetime was September 11, 2001. I was 25 years old.
I remember the buzz around the Unabomber, but I would say that the first major event that really shook me was 9/11. I started becoming more aware of the world and politics after that event.
My very first job was the second lieutenant in the Air Force and I had that job for 22 1/2 years.
I worked in the accounting department of my high school when I was fourteen. I worked there for three years while I was attending school.
"Once an Eagle" by Anton Myrer because it is about values, compromise, struggles with conflicting values and loyalty.
Alice in Wonderland is a classic I always wander back to. The way that L. Frank Baum can convey Alice's thought process is incredible.
I tend to over extend myself.
Compromises, although I would see it as a strength in Congress.
That they can hold the executive branch accountable.
The US House of Representatives is unique in the fact that it's chosen by district. People in the same district or area tend to think similarly so it is easier to represent the people you are familiar with.
No, but having a sold background in service and government policies is necessary.
Yes and No to an extent. I know I'm not a strong candidate in the fact that I don't have years of experience under my belt, but I also think that it's better in a sense that you aren't getting too comfortable or complacent because you are going with the flow.
Our National Debt. In 2021 we spent 130% of our GDP and no one seems to bat an eye at passing multi trillion-dollar legislation. To survive as a free country, we must act now to get our fiscal house in order.
Government spending, Jobs/Education, Russia, China, and Iran
I think that we are in a state where we are fiscally irresponsible and we won't be able to bounce back from it. I also think that many policies are for only appeasing some people while negatively impacting our future. Without our economy stabilized, more things in our society will collapse.
1. House Agriculture Committee

2. House Armed Services 3. House Committee on Veterans Affairs

4. House Foreign Affairs Committee
Agriculture, Education and Labor, Budget, Ethics, Oversight and Reform, Small Business, Veterans Affairs, Foreign Affairs
Yes
I believe that it may be too short for my liking only because I see a lot of campaigning for more than half a year before their term is over. Instead of campaigning for re-election, I would rather see Congress working for the people.
We need to have term limits in congress. The political elites have solidified their power and influence off the backs of We the People. I don't believe our founders envisioned a permanent political class. I think as a representative of the people you should go and do right by your voters and then leave the congress better than you found it. The longer one stays in D.C. the more likely they are to be corrupted by the power and influence.
I plan to serve 10 years in the House. I've asked people around my district what their thoughts are and they also agree to term limits. I realize there are plus and minuses but my plan is to serve 10 years unless I am speaker of the house where I can advocate for my people at a higher level.
I am on the fence about term limits. I do think that we don't need more career politicians but I also am a strong supporter of some politicians who continue to do good when it comes to government policies. I do think that the people have more power than they think and they could easily vote someone out.
Bob Dole
I was always impressed by the frankness and logic of Ted Gowdy and would want to follow in his footsteps. I also would like to compare myself with Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Brian Mast and Dan Crenshaw.
I think the most impactful story I have heard is actually one of the reasons that pushed me towards running. I was talking to a man during our state fair and he was telling the GOP booth about when he went to fill up with gas at a station he frequents, but this time a couple of miles down the road, his truck broke down. It turns out that the gasoline was tainted with water. Even though he has proof that he bought the gasoline there, his hands were tied because apparently there is no specific regulation on the ratio of gasoline. I was thinking that it was crazy to even think that situations like this would even arise.
What do you call a cow with no legs? Ground Beef
Yes, absolutely there needs to be compromise to achieve desirable policy making. Not one party can have it their way all the time. But I think in the middle we can find an area for compromise that benefits everyone in America.
I am not a strong advocate in comprising, especially depending on the situation. I think that every decision should be for the good of the people but compromises can ruin reasonable effort. When it comes to compromising, I see the atrocities being passed in omnibus bills and wish that it wouldn't be an all-or-nothing situation. Unfortunately, there may be two polar opposites, and comprise doesn't always happen in the middle
I believe that we do not need to raise any more revenue. What we need to do is look and what can be cut out of the budget so that we can spend less of the taxpayer's money on things that do not directly or indirectly benefit the taxpayers.
I wouldn't spend more than we make.
As an average citizen, I know what it's like to have tax burdens. First, I would focus on less spending because that's where the need for funds originates. After that is lowered, it would benefit Americans by lowing the amount that the government needs to tax.



Campaign advertisements

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.

Republican Party Jeff Fortenberry

Feb. 9, 2022

View more ads here:


Republican Party Mike Flood

May 1, 2022
March 23, 2022
Feb. 2, 2022

View more ads here:


Debates and forums

April 24 candidate interviews

On April 24, 2022, KETV NewsWatch 7 released an interview series on the congressional race featuring Flood and Weaver.[8]

March 10 candidate forum

On March 10, 2022, Flood, Fortenberry, and Weaver participated in a candidate forum hosted by the Nebraska Farm Bureau.[16]

News and conflicts in this primary

This race was featured in The Heart of the Primaries, a newsletter capturing stories related to conflicts within each major party. Click here to read more about conflict in this and other 2022 Republican U.S. House primaries. Click here to subscribe to the newsletter.

Noteworthy endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.


Republican Party primary endorsements
Endorser Republican Party Mike Flood Republican Party Jeffrey Fortenberry
Government officials
U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith (R)  source  
Gov. Pete Ricketts (R)  source  
State Sen. Tom Brewer (R)  source  
Papillion Mayor David Black  source  
Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike  source  
La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig  source  
Norfolk Mayor Josh Moenning  source  
Lt. Gov. Mike Foley (R)  source  
Individuals
Neb. Right to Life Exec. Dir. Sandy Danek  source  
Frmr. 2nd. District Rep. Hal Daub  source  
Frmr. NEGOP Chairman Mark Fahleson  source  
Frmr. Gov. David Heineman  source  
Frmr. NEGOP Chairman David Kramer  source  
Frmr. 3rd District Rep. Tom Osborne  source  
Frmr. NEGOP Chairman Mark Quandahl  source  
Organizations
Nebraska Farm Bureau  source  

Election competitiveness

Polls

We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, please email us.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[21]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[22][23][24]

Race ratings: Nebraska's 1st Congressional District election, 2022
Race trackerRace ratings
November 8, 2022November 1, 2022October 25, 2022October 18, 2022
The Cook Political Report with Amy WalterSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallSafe RepublicanSafe RepublicanSafe RepublicanSafe Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Election spending

Campaign finance

This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election.[25] It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees.[26] Click here to view the reporting schedule for candidates for U.S. Congress in 2022.

U.S. Congress campaign reporting schedule, 2022
Report Close of books Filing deadline
Year-end 2021 12/31/2021 1/31/2022
April quarterly 3/31/2022 4/15/2022
July quarterly 6/30/2022 7/15/2022
October quarterly 9/30/2022 10/15/2022
Pre-general 10/19/2022 10/27/2022
Post-general 11/28/2022 12/08/2022
Year-end 2022 12/31/2022 1/31/2023


Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Mike Flood Republican Party $2,195,051 $2,188,179 $6,872 As of December 31, 2022
Jeffrey Fortenberry Republican Party $784,947 $1,503,382 $0 As of September 30, 2022
Curtis Huffman Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
John Glen Weaver Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Thireena Yuki Connely Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2022. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

Satellite spending

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[27][28][29]

If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.

By candidate By election

Noteworthy events

Fortenberry's federal indictment (2021)

Election context

Election history

2020

See also: Nebraska's 1st Congressional District election, 2020

Nebraska's 1st Congressional District election, 2020 (May 12 Democratic primary)

Nebraska's 1st Congressional District election, 2020 (May 12 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Incumbent Jeffrey Fortenberry defeated Kate Bolz and Dennis Grace in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jeffrey Fortenberry
Jeffrey Fortenberry (R)
 
59.5
 
189,006
Image of Kate Bolz
Kate Bolz (D)
 
37.7
 
119,622
Image of Dennis Grace
Dennis Grace (L) Candidate Connection
 
2.8
 
8,938

Total votes: 317,566
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Kate Bolz defeated Barbara Ramsey in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kate Bolz
Kate Bolz
 
77.6
 
43,400
Barbara Ramsey Candidate Connection
 
22.4
 
12,497

Total votes: 55,897
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Incumbent Jeffrey Fortenberry advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jeffrey Fortenberry
Jeffrey Fortenberry
 
100.0
 
84,017

Total votes: 84,017
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Dennis Grace advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Dennis Grace
Dennis Grace Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
1,047

Total votes: 1,047
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Nebraska's 1st Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Incumbent Jeffrey Fortenberry defeated Jessica McClure in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jeffrey Fortenberry
Jeffrey Fortenberry (R)
 
60.4
 
141,712
Image of Jessica McClure
Jessica McClure (D)
 
39.6
 
93,069

Total votes: 234,781
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Jessica McClure defeated Dennis Crawford in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jessica McClure
Jessica McClure
 
66.1
 
22,199
Image of Dennis Crawford
Dennis Crawford
 
33.9
 
11,386

Total votes: 33,585
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Incumbent Jeffrey Fortenberry advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jeffrey Fortenberry
Jeffrey Fortenberry
 
100.0
 
51,809

Total votes: 51,809
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2016

See also: Nebraska's 1st Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Jeff Fortenberry (R) defeated Daniel Wik (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced a primary opponent on May 10, 2016.[30]

U.S. House, Nebraska District 1 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Fortenberry Incumbent 69.5% 189,771
     Democratic Daniel Wik 30.5% 83,467
Total Votes 273,238
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

Primary candidates:[31]

Democratic

Daniel Wik[32] Approveda

Republican

Jeff Fortenberry - Incumbent[32] Approveda

2014

See also: Nebraska's 1st Congressional District elections, 2014

The 1st Congressional District of Nebraska held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Jeff Fortenberry (R) defeated Dennis Crawford (D) in the general election.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 1 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Fortenberry Incumbent 68.8% 123,219
     Democratic Dennis Crawford 31.2% 55,838
Total Votes 179,057
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State
U.S. House, Nebraska District 1 Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Fortenberry Incumbent 86.1% 63,673
Jessica L. Turek 8% 5,902
Dennis Parker 6% 4,407
Total Votes 73,982
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

Ballot access requirements

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Nebraska in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nebraska, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Nebraska U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A $1,740.00 2/15/2022 Source
Nebraska U.S. House Unaffiliated 20% of registered voters in the district who voted for president in 2020, or 2,000, whichever is less $1,740.00 9/1/2022 Source

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

  • District map - A map of the district before and after redistricting.
  • Effect of redistricting - How districts in the state changed as a result of redistricting following the 2020 census.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2022 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • Demographics - Information about the state's demographics and how they compare to the country as a whole.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.

District map

Below was the map in use at the time of the election, enacted as part of the 2020 redistricting cycle, compared to the map in place before the election.

Nebraska District 1
until January 2, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Nebraska District 1
starting January 3, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.


Effect of redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Nebraska after the 2020 census

The table below details the results of the 2020 presidential election in each district at the time of the 2022 election and its political predecessor district.[33] This data was compiled by Daily Kos Elections.[34]

2020 presidential results by Congressional district, Nebraska
District 2022 district Political predecessor district
Joe Biden Democratic Party Donald Trump Republican Party Joe Biden Democratic Party Donald Trump Republican Party
Nebraska's 1st 43.3% 54.3% 41.3% 56.3%
Nebraska's 2nd 52.2% 45.8% 52.2% 45.7%
Nebraska's 3rd 23.1% 74.9% 22.4% 75.6%

Competitiveness

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2022

This section contains data on U.S. House primary election competitiveness in Nebraska.

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in Nebraska in 2022. Information below was calculated on March 25, 2022, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

In 2022, 16 candidates filed to run for Nebraska’s three U.S. House districts, including nine Republicans, six Democrats, and one Legal Marijuana Now candidate. That's 5.3 candidates per district, more than the 4.7 candidates per district in 2020 and 3.7 in 2018.

This was the first candidate filing deadline to take place under new district lines adopting during Nebraska's decennial redistricting process. Nebraska was apportioned three congressional districts, the same number it had after the 2010 census.

Incumbent Reps. Don Bacon (R) and Adrian Smith (R) filed for re-election and both drew primary challengers. Former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R) also filed for re-election in the 1st District. On March 31, Fortenberry resigned from Congress following his conviction on campaign finance-related charges in federal court. This resignation came after the election withdrawal deadline, meaning Fortenberry's name would remain on the primary ballot.[35]

Since Fortenberry would no longer be an incumbent at the time of the primary, the 1st District was counted as an open seat in this analysis. This created the first open-seat regular election for U.S. House in Nebraska since 2006. The last time an incumbent lost in the state was in 2016 when Bacon defeated one-term incumbent Brad Ashford (D).

Presidential elections

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+9. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 9 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Nebraska's 1st the 156th most Republican district nationally.[36]

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2020 presidential election would have been in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by Daily Kos.

2020 presidential results in Nebraska's 1st based on 2022 district lines
Joe Biden Democratic Party Donald Trump Republican Party
43.3% 54.3%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Nebraska, 2020

Nebraska presidential election results (1900-2020)

  • 6 Democratic wins
  • 25 Republican wins
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020
Winning Party R R D D D R R R D D R R R R R R D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R


Demographics

The table below details demographic data in Nebraska and compares it to the broader United States as of 2019.

Demographic Data for Nebraska
Nebraska United States
Population 1,961,504 331,449,281
Land area (sq mi) 76,817 3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White 85.3% 70.4%
Black/African American 4.8% 12.6%
Asian 2.5% 5.6%
Native American 0.9% 0.8%
Pacific Islander 0.1% 0.2%
Other (single race) 2.5% 5.1%
Multiple 3.9% 5.2%
Hispanic/Latino 11.2% 18.2%
Education
High school graduation rate 91.6% 88.5%
College graduation rate 32.5% 32.9%
Income
Median household income $63,015 $64,994
Persons below poverty level 10.4% 12.8%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


State party control

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Nebraska's congressional delegation as of November 2022.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Nebraska, November 2022
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 0 0 0
Republican 2 3 5
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 3 5

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Nebraska's top four state executive offices as of November 2022.

State executive officials in Nebraska, November 2022
Office Officeholder
Governor Republican Party Pete Ricketts
Lieutenant Governor Republican Party Mike Foley
Secretary of State Republican Party Bob Evnen
Attorney General Republican Party Doug Peterson

State legislature

The table below highlights the partisan composition of the Nebraska State Senate as of November 2022.

Nebraska State Senate

Party As of November 2022
     Democratic Party 17
     Republican Party 32
     Independent 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 49

Trifecta control

As of November 2022, Nebraska was a Republican trifecta, with a majority in the state legislature and control of the governorship. The table below displays the historical trifecta status of the state.

Nebraska Party Control: 1992-2022
Seven years of Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Governor D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2022 battleground elections

See also: Battlegrounds

This election was a battleground race. Other 2022 battleground elections included:

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. The Washington Post, "Rep. Jeff Fortenberry resigns after being found guilty of lying to FBI," March 26, 2022
  2. KMTV, "Fortenberry resignation sets up unique situation with special election," March 28, 2022
  3. Lincoln Journal Star, "Don Walton: Fortenberry and Flood share top billing with Republican governor's race," Jan. 30, 2022
  4. Mike Flood's campaign website, "WATCH: Flood Announces Campaign for Congress," Jan. 16, 2022
  5. Mike Flood's campaign website, "Issues," accessed Feb. 16, 2022
  6. 6.0 6.1 1011 NOW, "Pete Ricketts and Dave Heineman endorse Mike Flood for Congress," Jan. 21, 2022
  7. FiveThirtyEight, "Nebraska," accessed March 1, 2022
  8. 8.0 8.1 YouTube, "Chronicle: Race for Nebraska's 1st Congressional District Part 1," April 24, 2022
  9. Lincoln Journal Star, "U.S. Chamber of Commerce hands Flood early endorsement," April 19, 2022
  10. Facebook, "Mike Flood for Congress," April 13, 2022
  11. Facebook, "Mike Flood for Congress," April 12, 2022
  12. Facebook, "Mike Flood for Congress," April 7, 2022
  13. Facebook, "Mike Flood for Congress," April 5, 2022
  14. KMTV, "Fortenberry resignation sets up unique situation with special election," March 28, 2022
  15. The Washington Post, "Rep. Jeff Fortenberry resigns after being found guilty of lying to FBI," March 26, 2022
  16. 16.0 16.1 YouTube, "Nebraska Farm Bureau's 1st Congressional District Forum," March 17, 2022
  17. Facebook, "Mike Flood for Congress," Feb. 23, 2022
  18. Facebook, "Mike Flood for Congress," Feb. 4, 2022
  19. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named daube
  20. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named foleye
  21. Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  22. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  23. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  24. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  25. Fundraising by primary candidates can be found on the race's respective primary election page. Fundraising by general election candidates can be found on the race's general election page.
  26. Federal Election Commission, "2022 Quarterly Reports," accessed March 2, 2022
  27. OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
  28. OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
  29. National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
  30. Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List," March 2, 2016
  31. Candidates are listed by party and alphabetically within each party.
  32. 32.0 32.1 Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List," March 2, 2016
  33. Political predecessor districts are determined primarily based on incumbents and where each chose to seek re-election.
  34. Daily Kos Elections, "Daily Kos Elections 2020 presidential results by congressional district (old CDs vs. new CDs)," accessed May 12, 2022
  35. KMTV, "Fortenberry resignation sets up unique situation with special election," March 28, 2022
  36. Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed February 6, 2023


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
Don Bacon (R)
District 3
Republican Party (5)