National Democrats put NE-01 in its ‘districts in play’ program

LINCOLN — National Democrats are putting Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District in their “districts in play,” a program for districts seen as competitive in the eyes of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this cycle. 

The DCCC, the campaign arm for U.S. House Democrats, announced the move Wednesday; the program is a different tier from its “Red-to-Blue” program, which the Nebraska 2nd Congressional District Democratic nominee, Denise Powell, is in.

Unlike the 2nd District, this is the first time the 1st District has been put in this program. The DCCC said the addition of the incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Flood’s district sends “the clear message that Democrats know Nebraska voters are souring on Flood’s wildly unpopular record of raising costs, attacking affordable health care, and hurting working families.” 

“This November, Nebraskans are going to fire Flood and elect a representative who is going to put them and their concerns over D.C. party bosses,” said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene.

Flood is in a race with Democratic nominee Chris Backemeyer and Libertarian Nik Sandman. Austin Ahlman was mounting a nonpartisan campaign but dropped out over concerns about his father’s health. 

Backemeyer might benefit from the race being part of the program, as it will likely help with fundraising. According to the FEC, Backemeyer has $290,610 cash on hand while Flood has $1.5 million to spend. 

Brentin Ungar, Flood’s campaign manager, said, “It’s no surprise DC Democrats are rallying behind 20-year DC resident Chris Backemeyer, even as he struggles to win over Democrats back home in Nebraska.”

“Partisan noise has never mattered to Congressman Flood, which is why he will keep listening to his district and delivering results like the bipartisan housing bill to make life more affordable for Nebraskans,” Ungar said in a statement. 

Backemeyer said Flood “has spent years in elected office, but what do we have to show for it?”

“Families are struggling with rising costs for groceries, gas, healthcare, and housing. Farmers are facing higher expenses and uncertainty in the markets they rely on,” Backemyer said. “Our neighbors deserve a leader who will put people first, show up every day, and fight for lower costs and real opportunities for hardworking Nebraskans to get ahead.”

National Democrats are hoping to take over Republicans’ slim majority in the closely divided U.S. House, as the party that controls the White House typically doesn’t do well in the midterms. 

The 1st District comprises 12 counties, including Lancaster County, which is home to heavily Democratic Lincoln, a city whose blue voters are often drowned out 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.

With the 1st District added to the DCCC’s districts in play, the total is now 47 races included in the program. 

The general election is Nov. 3.