(Picture credit Lewis Thune)
LINCOLN — Congressman Mike Flood of Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District conducted a brief presser in the Capitol rotunda Thursday afternoon to announce a list of public safety endorsements in his race against Democratic challenger Chris Backemeyer.
“Ever since I started in the Nebraska Legislature, when I began on the Judiciary Committee, I started developing relationships with county attorneys, and state police agencies, and our state patrol,” Flood said.
“Some 23 years later, I’m so proud today to announce an endorsement from the Lincoln Fire Union, the Nebraska Professional Firefighters Association, the Lincoln Police Union, the Nebraska Fraternal Order of Police, the Omaha Police Officers Association, and the State Troopers Association of Nebraska.”
Before welcoming representatives to the podium, Flood praised Omaha and Lincoln’s ISO ratings of 1, insurance’s highest mark for fire preparedness, which prevents additional hikes in premiums. He also used the opportunity to once again attack his opponent for the Democrat’s longtime residence in DC as an employee of the State Department.
“I have lived in Nebraska, except for college, every single year and every day of my life. My opponent has not lived here for 30 years – that means he doesn’t know the officer that patrols his street, he’s never talked to the fire chief… that’s the difference between him and me,” he said.
His endorsers focused on his record with regard to public safety, a point he has stressed repeatedly in pitching himself as a “proven commodity.”
Brennan Oliverius of the Lincoln Firefighters Association was up first, lauding Flood for his record the Nebraska legislature for helping preserve firefighter’s ability to collective bargain, and his federal work on addressing occupational cancer for firemen.
“The Lincoln Firefighters Association has always believed in supporting candidates who support firefighters, regardless of their political affiliation. And Congressman Flood has demonstrated that commitment through his actions, not just his words,” he said.
John Villamonte of Lincoln Police and the Lincoln Police Union thanked Flood for helping secure appropriations for additional LPD cruisers and body cameras in Lancaster County.
“That’s what results look like. Mike Flood understands that public safety isn’t just about winning, say, an election. He’s focused on putting talk into action,” Villamonte said.
Flood briefly took the microphone to highlight the police work of investigators such as Villamonte as well as dispatchers and communications specialists. He then welcomed Lucas Bolton of the State Trooper Association of Nebraska, who spoke of Flood’s attempts in the unicameral to bolster contraction, retention, and benefits for Nebraska law enforcement.
“I’m probably a little bit biased, but I have to agree with Congressman Flood, because I’ve heard him say it before, there’s no better state to work as a law enforcement officer than the state of Nebraska,” he said. “Also, as a Congressman, you’ve continued to help secure federal funding.”
Flood ended the press conference with Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner, who is poised to retire in two weeks after 32 years as sheriff. Wagner took the podium and immediately joked about it with Flood, observing that the Congressman was a year old when the sheriff got his start in law enforcement.
“A lot of politicians say they back the blue, but Mike Flood has demonstrated that over the years, time and time again… Mike just doesn’t back the blue during campaign season,” Wagner said.
He recalled Flood’s support throughout the difficulties of 2020, “when other states walked away from their officers.”
“He’s the only elected representative right, in my memory, on a state and federal level, that’s always there for law enforcement.”
Flood Reacts to Race Rating Change
Flood reacted to the day’s news that Inside Elections had shifted its projection in the race from “likely” to “lean” Republican.
“The only one I pay attention to is Cook Political,” he said. “My guess is they’re doing that based on the environment. I found out the other day, of the races that were changed by Cook, they weren’t looking at individual polling done yet in those races, they were looking at the political environment… none of this is a surprise.”
On Friday, Flood’s seat has shifted from “safe Republican” to “likely Republican” in Cook Political Report.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee lists the district as “in play.” With no independent polls on the race and two weeks until election day, the exact margin between the two-term incumbent and challenger remains unknown.
— Lewis Thune is a College Fix writing fellow with The Plains Sentinel.