Mike Flood Wins Fortenberry’s Seat
By Gordon Hopkins
Mike Flood has won the special election on Tuesday, June 28, held to replace Jeff Fortenberry, who resigned earlier this year from the First Congressional District in Nebraska.
Flood entered the race after the incumbent, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, District One, was charged with lying to the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation). Flood cited concerns that Fortenberry’s legal woes would keep him from focusing on re-election. Fortenberry was then convicted and he was sentenced the same day as the election.
The First Congressional District covers 12 counties: Butler, Cass, Colfax, Cuming, Dodge, Lancaster, Madison, Platte, Polk, Sarpy, Seward, and Stanton.
Flood is currently a Senator representing District 19. Flood is also the founder and CEO of Flood Communications, which owns KUTT, aka Ol’ Red 99.5, licensed in Fairbury, and News Channel Nebraska (NCN). He served as Speaker of the Legislature from 2007 to 2013.
Flood was endorsed by Governor Pete Ricketts.
He will complete Fortenberry’s term and serve until January 3, 2023.
Flood gave a victory speech election night and said, “Today, across the First Congressional District, Nebraskans made their voices heard loud and clear. Tonight, they sent an unmistakable message to Washington that America is on the wrong track and it’s time for a change in leadership. Under Joe Biden’s and Nancy Pelosi’s one-party rule and reign of error, things have gone from bad to worse.”
Flood Defeated Democratic Senator Patty Pansing Brooks (District 28) by a closer margin than expected. According to results from the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office, Flood got 53.17 percent of the votes, compared to Pansing Brooks at 46.83 percent. Preliminary results indicate Pansing brooks won Lancaster County while Flood won all other counties in the First District.
Per the Secretary of State, these results are still unofficial.
Pansing Brooks also issued a statement election night, “Though we came up a bit short tonight, our numbers at the polls today prove that we’re right on track to win our ultimate goal: a full term in November.
