Congressional debate up in the air in Nebraska’s 1st District

LINCOLN — Debates for Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District are up in the air after public spats from the candidates. 

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Flood and Democratic challenger Chris Backemeyer pointed fingers at each other after each declined particular dates to debate. Flood’s camp wanted to hold a debate before early voting ballots are mailed out later this month, while Backemeyer offered different dates in October due to scheduling conflicts. 

Flood’s campaign released a statement late Thursday afternoon, saying that Backemeyer had turned down multiple date suggestions for the Nebraska Public Media debate. 

“Nebraskans deserve an opportunity to hear from both candidates before voting begins. Chris Backemeyer told Nebraska media he wants to debate, but back-track Backemeyer turned down multiple dates when it came time to schedule it,” Brentin Ungar, Flood’s campaign manager, said in the statement. 

Hours later, Backemeyer released his own statement, saying Flood had declined the League of Women Voters’ invitation to its debate earlier this week, though the invitations had been sent out in July. The League of Women Voters, in an Aug. 31 newsletter, also said Flood had declined their debate. 

Flood’s press release focused only on the debate hosted by Nebraska Public Media.

Backemeyer said if Flood “is so busy that he can’t talk to Nebraskans in the entire month of October, he should just come out and say it.” 

The former diplomat said the offer to debate on any day in October still stands. He added that Flood is running away from his record as he “doesn’t want to stand on a stage and defend a war with no strategy, a bill he admits he didn’t read, and tariffs crushing our farmers.” 

Nebraska Public Media spokesperson told the Omaha World-Herald the three outlets planning the debate “continue to talk with the candidates to identify a date that works for everyone.”

NPM, the World-Herald, and KRVN radio are involved in organizing the debate. 

The 1st District comprises 12 counties, including Lancaster County, which is home to heavily Democratic Lincoln, whose blue voters often are outvoted by the region’s more conservative smaller cities and rural areas.

Flood has won his past two U.S. House elections by 20 and 16 percentage points, respectively. Analysts, including the nonpartisan Center for Politics, the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections, consider the 1st District seat safely Republican — though national Democrats see the race as competitive.

In addition to Flood and Backemeyer, the America First Party has a candidate in the race, Dan Hartong. Libertarian Nik Sandman is also running. 

The general election is Nov. 3.