Patty Pansing Brooks
Patty Pansing Brooks is running for election to the Nebraska State Senate to represent District 28. She declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on May 12, 2026.[source]
Brooks (Democratic Party) was a member of the Nebraska State Senate, representing District 28. She assumed office on January 7, 2015. She left office on January 4, 2023.
Biography
Patty Pansing Brooks was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. Brooks graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School in 1976.[1] She earned a B.A. in political science and government from Colorado College in 1980 and a J.D. from the University of Nebraska in 1984.[2] Brooks' career experience includes co-founding and working as the vice president of Brooks, Pansing Brooks, PC, LLO, and working as an attorney.[1][2]
Committee assignments
2021-2022
Brooks was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Brooks was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Judiciary |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Pansing Brooks served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Judiciary |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2026
See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on May 12, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Nonpartisan primary
Nonpartisan primary election for Nebraska State Senate District 28
Patty Pansing Brooks (Nonpartisan) is running in the primary for Nebraska State Senate District 28 on May 12, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Patty Pansing Brooks (Nonpartisan) | |
| ||||
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Endorsements
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2022
Regular election
See also: Nebraska's 1st Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1
Incumbent Mike Flood defeated Patty Pansing Brooks in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mike Flood (R) | 57.9 | 129,236 |
| Patty Pansing Brooks (D) | 42.1 | 93,929 | |
| Total votes: 223,165 | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1
Patty Pansing Brooks defeated Jazari Kual Zakaria in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on May 10, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Patty Pansing Brooks | 86.5 | 31,808 |
 | Jazari Kual Zakaria | 13.5 | 4,944 | |
| Total votes: 36,752 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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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 | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Flood | 73.9 | 61,265 |
 | Jeffrey Fortenberry (Unofficially withdrew) | 11.8 | 9,807 | |
 | John Glen Weaver | 6.6 | 5,470 | |
| Thireena Yuki Connely | 4.0 | 3,353 | ||
 | Curtis Huffman | 3.7 | 3,062 | |
| Total votes: 82,957 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Special election
See also: Nebraska's 1st Congressional District special election, 2022
General election
Special general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1
Mike Flood defeated Patty Pansing Brooks in the special general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Flood (R) | 52.7 | 61,017 |
| Patty Pansing Brooks (D) | 47.3 | 54,783 | |
| Total votes: 115,800 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2018
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Nebraska State Senate District 28
Incumbent Patty Pansing Brooks won election in the general election for Nebraska State Senate District 28 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Patty Pansing Brooks (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 11,717 |
| Total votes: 11,717 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Nebraska State Senate District 28
Incumbent Patty Pansing Brooks advanced from the primary for Nebraska State Senate District 28 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Patty Pansing Brooks (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 6,263 |
| Total votes: 6,263 | |||
| = 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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2014
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Nebraska State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 13, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for challengers wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014, two days after the statutory deadline, which fell on a Saturday. Incumbents were required to file for election by February 18, 2014, three days after the statutory deadline, which fell on the Saturday prior to Presidents Day. Dallas Jones and Patty Pansing Brooks defeated Bob Rauner and Jeff Keidel in the primary election. Pansing Brooks defeated Jones in the general election.[3][4][5]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent |  Patty Pansing Brooks |
61.4% | 7,481 | |
| Independent | Dallas Jones | 38.6% | 4,706 | |
| Total Votes | 12,187 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Patty Pansing Brooks |
47.4% | 3,732 |
| Dallas Jones |
31.2% | 2,459 |
| Bob Rauner | 18.8% | 1,477 |
| Jeff Keidel | 2.6% | 202 |
| Total Votes | 7,870 | |
Endorsements
In 2014, Pansing Brooks' endorsements includedd the following:[6]
- Chris Beutler, Mayor of Lincoln
- Senator Danielle Nantkes Conrad, Lincoln
- Senator Kate Sullivan, Cedar Rapids
- Senator Kathy Campbell, Lincoln
- Senator Sara Howard, Omaha
- Senator Amanda McGill, Lincoln
- Senator Ken Haar, Lincoln
- Senator Brad Ashford, Omaha
- Senator Annette Dubas, Fullerton
- Senator Steve Lathrop, Omaha
- Senator Burke Harr, Omaha
- Senator Jeremy Nordquist, Omaha
- Senator Heath Mello, Omaha
- Senator Russ Karpisek, Wilber
- Senator Norm Wallman, Cortland
- Senator Rick Kolowski, Omaha
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2022
Patty Pansing Brooks did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Patty Pansing Brooks did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Brooks' campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Unlike Mike Flood, I will put Nebraska first. Instead of following orders from party bosses, I will focus on our district – keeping taxes low, growing our small businesses, and strengthening our national security.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a wake-up call for many of us: We must make full-spectrum, high-quality health care accessible to all Nebraskans. I’m working to get us all covered, protect the millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions, lower prescription drug prices, strengthen rural hospitals and invest in rural access to specialist care. We also must guarantee family medical leave and stand up to predatory corporations that value profits over people.
Nebraskans work hard for our families and our futures. Right now, too many are struggling to make ends meet. It’s time to reclaim an economy that lifts us all up with great jobs, strong safety nets and a fair tax system that demands all pay their share. From family farmers pushing back against monopolies, to union workers striking for a living wage, to small business owners struggling to compete on a level playing field, I’ll be the voice for every family in Nebraska.
I’ll champion legislation that delivers safer roads and bridges, better public transportation options and rural broadband to all of our communities. But infrastructure isn’t just building bridges and roads — it’s about bridging the divides that prevent us from moving forward, and building roads into a brighter day ahead. I’ll invest in green energy and the green jobs that come with it, research and technology that make Nebraska an exciting place to live and work, and strong public schools that produce our next generation of problem solvers.
No matter where we’re from, the color of our skin, whom we love, or how we choose to shape our futures, Nebraska is stronger when we make everyone welcome at the table. I will defend the right to control our own health care and reproductive decisions, strengthen protections for the LGBTQ+ community in the workplace and at school, reform our criminal justice system, protect the rights of our vital and growing minority populations, including our Dreamers, safeguard our right to vote and put in the time to make Nebraska a safe place for all of us to live, work, and thrive.
The success of America depends on industry, and in Congress I will work to create jobs and help our district grow. As the co-founder and owner of a small law firm for more than 35 years, I have been privileged to bring new jobs and economic growth to Nebraska by representing a wide array of businesses. From small start-ups to multinational enterprises, I have supported fabulous business owners and made sure each entity feels excited about investing in our state.
My opponent has voted against protecting access to birth control, against allowing abortions in instances of rape and incest, and against allowing women to travel out of state to access reproductive health care services. He also voted to arrest doctors for practicing as trained. I believe Nebraskans should have the freedom to make their own decisions regarding reproductive health and not be subject to government mandates.
It is beyond time for Congress to come together and pass comprehensive immigration reform to reduce the backlog in the courts, provide Dreamers a seamless pathway to citizenship, and better secure our borders. I support common sense solutions such as increasing the number of immigration judges and continuing to fund our Alternatives to Detention Program.
Nebraskans suffering from chronic pain and seizures should have access to medicine that helps them live their lives to the fullest. This is why I support medical marijuana. By contrast, my opponent voted against allowing the DEA to even research the medicinal benefits of marijuana.
America needs a strong military to protect our freedom and our national interests. Our collective challenge is to have the best recruits and highest retention rates, especially here in our district. We can achieve these goals through quality housing and health care, fair compensation, and by providing our service members with everything they need to support their families, their careers, and their respective missions.
I am so grateful to have been able to attend the opening of Offutt Air Force Base’s new 55th Wing Runway. STRATCOM plays a vital role in our nation’s preparedness and deterrence, and I stand behind the service members in our district who play critical roles in deterring conflict and underwriting military operations around the world. As other countries increase their offensive military capabilities, I will continue to support our nation’s security, while working hand in glove with our closest allies.
As defenders of our nation, our veterans deserve quality health care and access to jobs after their active duty. In the Legislature, I voted to lower taxes on veterans retirement income and introduced a bill creating a veterans program coordinator position and the www.veterans.nebraska.gov website. These initiatives continue to connect veterans to Nebraska’s job market and workforce development programs. In Congress, I will continue to work with our veterans to provide them the healthcare they need, including mental health services, and guarantee workforce development opportunities are available when they return to civilian life.
Rural Nebraskans need better funding for broadband, roads, bridges, parks, airports, hospitals, and affordable housing. Nearly 50% of our state’s bridges are in need of repair or are structurally deficient! Shrinking populations are also a major concern of mine. I will work across political divides to make certain our rural communities have the financial support and the services they need to keep and attract people.
Nebraska’s agricultural sector is the driving force of our economy. This year, I co-sponsored LB 925 (The Resilient Soils and Water Quality Initiative) with Sen. Tim Gragert. This new law compensates farmers who protect valuable topsoil, so that our farmland can continue to grow crops and support future generations. As your Representative, I will continue to work with farmers and ranchers around our district to make sure our small family farms thrive.
We must reduce our energy dependence on foreign countries. I support diversifying our energy sources at home. Diversity generates power. While there is no silver bullet, I believe in incentives for ethanol, solar and wind production here in Nebraska, as well as carbon sequestration initiatives. With plenty of sun, wind and corn, funding energy independence will mean cheaper gas and utility bills for families and increased jobs for our rural communities. Our energy initiatives must keep our precious water resources safe as well. Nebraska producers can and must fuel the world, as well as feed it.
Access to health care is a basic right for all Americans. I will vote to bring down prescription drug costs and set a cap on insulin prices. I will also work to expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage. Unlike my opponent, who voted against lowering ACA health premiums for millions of Americans and against setting a cap of $35 on insulin, I believe no American should go bankrupt receiving the healthcare they need. In addition, the government should not be forcing healthcare mandates on our people. Reproductive healthcare decisions should be between the doctor and patient and not the government.
Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are tremendously successful programs with broad support. I will protect these benefits and fight any efforts to privatize or cut them. Promises to our seniors must be kept. I will also make sure we continue to expand Medicaid services into our rural communities and rural hospitals.
We must guarantee law enforcement officers have the tools and training to keep our communities safe. We must also increase funds to make mental health services that are affordable and accessible. While serving in the Legislature I sponsored a study to establish a Mental Health Suicide prevention number in Nebraska, 988. I also support establishing Amber Alert procedures for responding and warning about active shooters in our community and funding training and dispatch for mental health professionals in police departments, two issues my opponent has voted against.
Growing up around family members who enjoy hunting, I respect the 2nd Amendment and the desire of Nebraskans to hunt and protect themselves. As the late Justice Antonin Scalia stated, I also believe the 2nd amendment does not guarantee every gun, in every place at every time. Certain common sense restrictions are necessary to protect our schools, places of worship, hospitals and communities.
I have been a proponent of public education all my life. I believe we must continue to improve our public schools by increasing teacher salaries, and we must work hard to keep good teachers in Nebraska. I support caps on student loan interest rates, funding for apprenticeship programs and community colleges, and in limited circumstances the forgiveness of student loans, especially in response to the loan struggles arising during the pandemic. By investing in our public education system and our struggling students, we can grow our local economies and help Nebraska businesses find the right workers.
Making sure Nebraskans are thriving is my top priority. Through fiscal responsibility and smart spending we can grow our local economies. Today, more and more Americans are struggling and living paycheck to paycheck. To make everyday expenses like gas and groceries more affordable, I will work to raise wages and ensure that predatory businesses are not taking advantage of our workers.
Our economy is still recovering from a pandemic that put millions of Americans out of work. Russian aggression is also disrupting oil prices and increasing global transportation and food costs. We can stabilize our economy by diversifying our fuel sources to avoid high gas prices, by supporting our truckers and freight handling industries to ensure we do not face supply chain shortages and by keeping taxes low for Americans who are struggling.
I believe that no American should be denied the right to vote or have to worry their vote will not be counted. I am dedicated to protecting the integrity of elections from abuses of power, encouraging and supporting voting by mail, and discouraging measures that block citizens’ access to the polls. Discriminatory barriers like Voter ID should be eliminated. We need to expand voting access for all Americans.[7] |
” |
| —Patty Pansing Brooks' campaign website (2022)[8] | ||
2014
Pansing Brooks' campaign website highlighted the following issues:[9]
Ensuring Educational Opportunities
- Excerpt: "Accessible education will foster opportunities for our students to excel, creating brighter, more varied futures for all of Nebraska’s children."
Attracting Quality Jobs
- Excerpt: "We must be vigilant in working to attract new, quality businesses to employ our quality workforce. Issues of underemployment must be studied and opportunities for the steady stream of able college graduates must be celebrated in any efforts to bring new businesses to our city and state."
Promoting Strong and Healthy Families and Neighborhoods
- Excerpt: "People without access to health care, adequate food, shelter and the basic tools to succeed in our community, including technology and transportation, need to have effective ways to tap in to our community’s comprehensive and essential support systems. We must work together to strengthen Lincoln’s intricate safety net."
Campaign finance summary
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Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Nebraska scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2022
In 2022, the Nebraska State Legislature was in session from January 5 to April 20.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on conservative fiscal policy.
- Legislators are scored on children's issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Nebraska State Legislature was in session from January 6 to May 27.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Nebraska State Legislature was in session from January 8 to August 13.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 107th Legislature, 1st session from January 9 through May 31.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 106th Legislature, 2nd session from January 3 to April 18.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 105th Legislature, 1st session from January 4 to May 23.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 104th Legislature, 2nd session from January 6 to April 20.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 104th Legislature, 1st session from January 7 to May 29.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Pansing Brooks and her husband, Loel, have three children.[10]
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nebraska Legislature, "Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks Biography," accessed April 18, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 LinkedIn, "Patty Pansing Brooks," accessed April 18, 2022
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Official Results of Nebraska Primary Election," accessed July 7, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List," accessed March 21, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Official Results: General Election - November 4, 2014," accessed December 14, 2014
- ↑ pattypansingbrooks.com, "Endorsements," accessed March 21, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Patty Pansing Brooks for Congress, “Issues,” accessed November 4, 2022
- ↑ Patty Pansing Brooks, "Patty's Priorities," accessed August 27, 2014
- ↑ pattypansingbrooks.com, "About Patty," accessed March 21, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Nebraska State Senate District 28 2015-2023 |
Succeeded by Jane Raybould (D) |
