Nebraska lawmaker announces Democratic bid for Congress, says Republicans bend to ‘vocal minority’

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Democratic state lawmaker in Nebraska who unsuccessfully ran for governor two years ago is seeking a seat in the U.S. House.

Sen. Carol Blood confirmed Tuesday that she will run to represent the 1st Congressional District, which includes Lincoln and all or part of 13 counties in eastern Nebraska. She hopes to challenge Republican Rep. Mike Flood, who served in the state legislature with Blood until he was elected to Congress.

Flood was first elected to the seat in a June 2022 special election to replace former GOP Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, who resigned after being convicted on charges that he lied to federal agents. Flood went on to win the general election later that year, easily defeating Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks.

Blood was running for governor at the time, a race she lost to Republican Jim Pillen.

She will face another uphill slog in the 1st District race, which is considered a safe Republican seat by most election watchers and has not had a Democratic representative since Clair Callan was elected in 1964.

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