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Nebraska's 1st congressional district | |||||||||||||||||
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| Turnout | 28.44%[1] | ||||||||||||||||
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 Results by county Flood: 50–60% 60–70% 80–90% Brooks: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Nebraska |
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 Government |
The 2022 Nebraska's 1st congressional district special election, which was held on June 28, 2022, was triggered when Republican representative Jeff Fortenberry resigned on March 31, having been convicted of lying to the FBI about campaign contributions.[2][3]
Under Nebraska state law, major party nominees for special elections are selected by the party through its executive committee or party convention, with the special election scheduled by Governor Pete Ricketts within 90 days after the seat's vacancy.[4][5][6]
The election came under some controversy over the discovery that it would be held in the new post-2020 redistricting Nebraska's 1st congressional district. While some Nebraska officials claimed that the new map took immediate effect when signed, this was not in line with congressional rules which only recognized pre-2020 redistricting boundaries for the rest of 2022. It also caused confusion among Nebraska residents wanting to vote in the election or receive constituent services, especially as congressional funds are not allowed to be spent outside the recognized old district boundaries.[7]
Against a backdrop of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling four days before the election which overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade case on abortion, Republican nominee Mike Flood promoted his sponsorship of a 2010 Nebraska state law which banned abortions 20 weeks after fertilization in a campaign ad. Meanwhile, Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks highlighted her support for abortion rights, criticizing the Dobbs decision as an "assault on privacy" and "a step backward in American culture", and remarked that the election was the first instance where "we can fight back at the ballot box".[8][9]
After a campaign described by the Norfolk Daily News as "mostly positive" with "lighthearted" ads, Flood declared victory at 10:23 pm CDT, two hours after polls closed, promising to fight inflation, for which he blamed the policies of the Biden administration.
In light of the competitiveness of the election, (early results had shown Flood trailing Pansing Brooks) Nebraska Democratic Party chair Jane Kleeb released a statement that the national Democratic Party needed to invest more in rural areas considered to be "unwinnable" and that Pansing Brooks "connected with voters".[10][11]
Flood won a full term in November 2022 in a rematch with Pansing Brooks.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
turnoutwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Alfaro, Mariana; Paúl, María Luisa (March 26, 2022). "Rep. Fortenberry to resign after being found guilty of lying to FBI". Washington Post. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
- ^ Earl, David (March 24, 2022). "Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry convicted for lying to FBI about foreign campaign contribution". KETV. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ^ "Nebraska Revised Statute 32-564". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Nebraska Revised Statute 32-627". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "June 28 special election set for Nebraska's US Congressional District 1 seat". April 2, 2022.
- ^ Cioffi, Chris (July 6, 2022). "Nebraska quirk used new map to fill House vacancy last month". Roll Call. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ Padmore, William; Bauer, Will (June 28, 2022). "Flood Wins Special Election for Nebraska's 1st Congressional District". Nebraska Public Media. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ Schulte, Grant; Price, Michelle L. (June 29, 2022). "Democrats energized by tight race in GOP-leaning Nebraska". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ "'Friends, we did it,' as Flood wins special election". Norfolk Daily News. June 29, 2022. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ^ Schulte, Grant; Melley, Brian (June 29, 2022). "Nebraska GOP state Sen. Flood wins ex-congressman's seat". WFMZ-TV. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.