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Nebraska's 1st Congressional District election, 2026

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2024
Nebraska's 1st Congressional District
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General election
Election details
Filing deadline: Pending
Primary: May 12, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
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 Political Report: Solid Republican
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
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, 2026
See also
Nebraska's 1st Congressional District
U.S. Senate1st2nd3rd
Nebraska elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

All U.S. House districts, including the 1st Congressional District of Nebraska, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

  • Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
  • Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Incumbent Mike Flood, Christopher Backemeyer, and Eric Moyer are running in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on November 3, 2026.


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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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 Eric Moyer

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None


Key Messages

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


Income inequality is the single greatest threat to the future of the United States. The affordability crisis and concentration of wealth must be addressed by Congress. If elected, I will pursue reforms to the tax code to eliminate loopholes and impose an "asset origination tax" at fair market value for compensation of any individual in lieu of a regular salary. Once enacted, any award of stock or real property to an individual or entity valued in excess of $400,000 will be subject to taxation. Farmland and assets transferred via inheritance would be exempt from this tax. Further, I would work to create a tax cut for any individual earning less than $72,000 per year or $125,000 for those married filing jointly.


Our nation's "for profit" health care system is irreparably broken, inefficient and needlessly cruel. I fully and unequivocally support Medicare for All. Reproductive care is healthcare and healthcare is a human right. All citizens should have fair, effective and affordable access to universal basic health services. I will seek to expand the Medicare system to cover every citizen residing in the United States via reducing the qualifying age for Medicare access until every man, woman and child is covered. Under this system, for profit insurance and insurance through employers would still be encouraged for those who wish to have it.


Our nation's founders envisioned three co-equal branches of government in which Congress held the power of the purse. I will reassert congressional authority over taxes, spending and levying tariffs to guarantee that the will of the people and spending reflects the greater good rather than the whims of the powerful. If elected, I will eliminate tax cuts for the wealthy. Then I intend to restore funding to the Veterans Health Administration, Department of Education and SNAP while reining in wasteful spending on Immigration and Customs Enforcement. My spending priorities also include support for our allies and defenders of democracy worldwide assuming they respect fundamental, human rights.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Nebraska

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

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

Income inequality is the single greatest threat to the future of the United States. The affordability crisis and concentration of wealth must be addressed by Congress. If elected, I will pursue reforms to the tax code to eliminate loopholes and impose an "asset origination tax" at fair market value for compensation of any individual in lieu of a regular salary. Once enacted, any award of stock or real property to an individual or entity valued in excess of $400,000 will be subject to taxation. Farmland and assets transferred via inheritance would be exempt from this tax. Further, I would work to create a tax cut for any individual earning less than $72,000 per year or $125,000 for those married filing jointly.

Our nation's "for profit" health care system is irreparably broken, inefficient and needlessly cruel. I fully and unequivocally support Medicare for All.

Reproductive care is healthcare and healthcare is a human right. All citizens should have fair, effective and affordable access to universal basic health services. I will seek to expand the Medicare system to cover every citizen residing in the United States via reducing the qualifying age for Medicare access until every man, woman and child is covered. Under this system, for profit insurance and insurance through employers would still be encouraged for those who wish to have it.

Our nation's founders envisioned three co-equal branches of government in which Congress held the power of the purse. I will reassert congressional authority over taxes, spending and levying tariffs to guarantee that the will of the people and spending reflects the greater good rather than the whims of the powerful. If elected, I will eliminate tax cuts for the wealthy. Then I intend to restore funding to the Veterans Health Administration, Department of Education and SNAP while reining in wasteful spending on Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

My spending priorities also include support for our allies and defenders of democracy worldwide assuming they respect fundamental, human rights.
Representation for ALL Nebraskans; not just those who support my campaign or corporate interests. I will fight to defend everyone in my district regardless of their race, income, gender, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. I will resist any and all attempts to roll back the rights of women and minorities. I stand against attacks of any kind on the freedom or bodily autonomy.
Christa Yoakum, Lancaster County Commissioner

John Yoakum, Lower Platte South NRD Mike Lee, Community Leader & Social Justice Advocate Justin, Carlson, Lincoln City Council Nebraska Stonewall Democrats

Nebraska Democratic, Secular Council


Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Mike Flood Republican Party $1,202,812 $403,932 $1,019,662 As of September 30, 2025
Christopher Backemeyer Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Eric Moyer Democratic Party $5,646 $2,743 $3,849 As of September 30, 2025

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. 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.

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.[1]
  • 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.[2][3][4]

Race ratings: Nebraska's 1st Congressional District election, 2026
Race trackerRace ratings
12/23/202512/16/202512/9/202512/2/2025
The Cook Political Report with Amy WalterSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The HillPendingPendingPendingPending
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.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Nebraska in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nebraska, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Nebraska U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A $1,740 Incumbents: 2/17/2026, Non-incumbents: 3/2/2026 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 Incumbents: 2/17/2026, Non-incumbents: 3/2/2026 Source


District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.

General election

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Incumbent Mike Flood (R) defeated Carol Blood (D) in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mike Flood
Mike Flood (R)
 
60.1
 
187,559
Image of Carol Blood
Carol Blood (D)
 
39.9
 
124,498

Total votes: 312,057
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

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Carol Blood (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on May 14, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Carol Blood
Carol Blood
 
100.0
 
34,888

Total votes: 34,888
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

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Incumbent Mike Flood (R) defeated Michael Connely (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on May 14, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mike Flood
Mike Flood
 
81.5
 
56,846
Image of Michael Connely
Michael Connely  Candidate Connection
 
18.5
 
12,884

Total votes: 69,730
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

Special election

General election

Special general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Mike Flood (R) defeated Patty Pansing Brooks (D) in the special general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mike Flood
Mike Flood (R)
 
52.7
 
61,017
Image of Patty Pansing Brooks
Patty Pansing Brooks (D)
 
47.3
 
54,783

Total votes: 115,800
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.

Regular election

General election

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Incumbent Mike Flood (R) defeated Patty Pansing Brooks (D) in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mike Flood
Mike Flood (R)
 
57.9
 
129,236
Image of Patty Pansing Brooks
Patty Pansing Brooks (D)
 
42.1
 
93,929

Total votes: 223,165
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

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Patty Pansing Brooks (D) defeated Jazari Kual Zakaria (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on May 10, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Patty Pansing Brooks
Patty Pansing Brooks
 
86.5
 
31,808
Image of Jazari Kual Zakaria
Jazari Kual Zakaria  Candidate Connection
 
13.5
 
4,944

Total votes: 36,752
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

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Incumbent Mike Flood (R) defeated Jeffrey Fortenberry (R) (Withdrew, appeared on ballot), John Glen Weaver (R), Thireena Yuki Connely (R), and Curtis Huffman (R) 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 (Withdrew, appeared on ballot)
 
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.

General election

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Incumbent Jeffrey Fortenberry (R) defeated Kate Bolz (D) and Dennis Grace (L) 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

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Kate Bolz (D) defeated Barbara Ramsey (D) 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

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Incumbent Jeffrey Fortenberry (R) 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 Party primary

Libertarian primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1

Dennis Grace (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party 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.
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.

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 in place for the election.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.


Below is the district map in place for this election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

2023_01_03_ne_congressional_district_01.jpg
See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026
Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

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

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+6. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 6 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Nebraska's 1st the 176th most Republican district nationally.[5]

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in Nebraska's 1st Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic Party Donald Trump Republican Party
43.0% 56.0%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Nebraska, 2024

Nebraska presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 6 Democratic wins
  • 27 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 2024
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 R
See also: Party control of Nebraska state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Nebraska's congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Nebraska
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 October 2025.

State executive officials in Nebraska, October 2025
Office Officeholder
Governor Republican Party Jim Pillen
Lieutenant Governor Republican Party Joe Kelly
Secretary of State Republican Party Bob Evnen
Attorney General Republican Party Mike Hilgers

State legislature

Nebraska State Senate

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 14
     Republican Party 33
     Other 2
     Vacancies 0
Total 49

Trifecta control

Nebraska Party Control: 1992-2025
Seven years of Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-seven 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 23 24 25
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 R R R
Senate - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

See also

Nebraska 2026 primaries 2026 U.S. Congress elections
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External links

Footnotes

  1. Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  2. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  3. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  4. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  5. Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025


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