4 days Ago
First District Republican incumbent Mike Flood (left) and Democratic challenger Carol Blood debate on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at Nebraska Public Media. Nebraska Rep.
Mike Flood repeatedly linked his Democratic challenger to Vice President Kamala Harris during a televised debate Sunday afternoon between the two candidates vying to represent the state's 1st Congressional District. Meanwhile, Carol Blood, a state senator and former Bellevue city councilwoman who is seeking to unseat the Republican from Norfolk , distanced herself from the Democratic presidential nominee and party labels at large, decrying the hyper-partisanship that she said has plagued Congress for decades. The debate, broadcast live on Nebraska Public Media from the public broadcaster’s studio on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's East Campus, offered a window into the starkly different views the two candidates hold on numerous issues — and into the political realities of the 1st District.
Flood, who is seeking his second full term representing the district he won by more than 35,000 votes in 2022 , leaned into his status as a House Republican, warning that "the Democratic Party has never been more united in its extremism" and calling Blood a would-be "rubber-stamp for the Democrats in Washington." Blood, who is trying to become the first Democrat elected to represent the district since 1964, countered that Flood's own remarks were evidence for "why you should vote for me. Because the hyper-partisanship is strong.
"I am not identified by a party, but Congressman Flood clearly is," she said. First Congressional District Democratic challenger Carol Blood speaks during a debate Sunday at Nebraska Public Media's studios in Lincoln. The rhetorical jabs came amid closing statements at the end of Sunday's hourlong debate, the only one scheduled between the two candidates vying to represent the state's 1st Congressional District, which encompasses Lancaster, Madison, Cass, Seward, Butler, Dodge, Colfax, Stanton, Cuming, Platte, Stanton and the eastern parts of Sarpy and Polk counties.
The two were given 60 seconds each — and occasional rebuttal periods — to address a host of questions prepared by local media outlets, including over abortion access, immigration, gun violence and national security. Facing a question over what role the federal government should play in restricting access to abortion, Flood, a former state lawmaker who was for years the speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, heralded the 2022 overturning of Roe V. Wade for leaving the issue in the hands of state lawmakers.
Flood took credit for the state's 20-week abortion ban the Legislature replaced last year with a 12-week ban, which Flood said Sunday he also supports. He said he signed a petition this summer in support of a conservative-backed effort to enshrine the 12-week ban into Nebraska's constitution — but said little about the federal government's potential role in regulating the procedure. "I think it's important to note, as it relates to federal legislation, it's hard to comment on something that we have not seen," he said.
"But I want to tell you, I am pro-life, as opposed to my opponent, who has voted against banning dismemberment abortions . I am in the mainstream with Americans on this. She is in the extreme because she supports abortion up to and before the day of birth.
" First District Congressional Republican incumbent Mike Flood speaks during a debate Sunday at Nebraska Public Media's studios in Lincoln. Blood, in response, called Flood's remarks a "scare tactic" and reframed the question as a "health care issue." She warned of the impacts a "patchwork of laws" governing abortion access could have.
"Here's what I believe: I believe in freedom," she said. "I trust women to make these important decisions. I don't trust male politicians to make these decisions because they are not doctors.
" Blood, like Flood, did not outline any plan for federal regulation of abortion. After moderators asked both candidates what their own party should do better to address immigration policy, Blood objected to the partisan framing of the question and quickly placed the blame on Congress at large, which she accused of being "unable to pass a long-term budget to fund the resources." "They're not listening to the boots on the ground and instead, they're creating boogeymen, creating fear and putting out misinformation," she said, calling for an increase in funding for border security and immigration judges to address the backlog of pending immigration cases.
First District Congressional Republican incumbent Mike Flood (left) and Democratic challenger Carol Blood debate Sunday at Nebraska Public Media's studios in Lincoln. Flood, who voted last year to send the bipartisan immigration legislation to the Senate where it was killed by the GOP at the direction of former President Donald Trump, made no mention of the failed effort as he reflected on what his party could do differently to address immigration. Instead, Flood accused Harris — and, through her, Blood — of "support(ing) amnesty for illegal immigrants.
" "At the end of the day, that's not where Americans are," Flood said, later calling for his own party to make Trump's remain-in-Mexico-policy "the law of the land." In response to a question over what — or who — poses the greatest threat to the country's national security, Blood quipped: "I think that's a very long list." At the top of the state lawmaker's list, though, was agriculture-based terrorism, she said.
"We know that we have not made any movement forward to protect our environment, to protect our farmers, to protect our water sources," she said. Blood named Russia as the nation's top foreign adversary, warning that the U.S.
must "stay on the stage where we show that we are powerful and that we have a military that will respond as necessary." First District Republican incumbent Mike Flood (left) and Democratic challenger Carol Blood debate on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at Nebraska Public Media.
Flood offered an alternative top adversary: China. "China is the biggest threat to the superpower status of the United States," he said. "They now have a navy bigger than ours.
They are building a nuclear triad bigger than the one we have today. They wake up every single day and use espionage and cyberattacks to target Americans." He agreed that Russia "is a problem" but said that the country's economy is comparable to that of the state of Texas.
"China is a juggernaut — and they want the end of America," Flood said. You can watch the full debate on Nebraska Public Media's YouTube page . Download the new Journal Star News Mobile App Members of the UNL Army ROTC's Big Red Battalion climb the steps of Memorial Stadium during a silent stair climb in remembrance of those lost in the 9/11 attacks on Wednesday, Sept.
11, 2024, in Lincoln. Starting at 6:00 a.m.
, various members of the branches of UNL ROTC, first responders in the surrounding Lancaster areas, and former military members began a silent stair climb workout that involves climbing 2,071 steps, or about 110 flights of stairs. This was the number of stairs that were present at the World Trade Center, which first responders climbed in an effort to rescue people from the towers. The cadets only count the stairs going up, not down.
Representing those first responders who never got a chance to descend safely. Lincoln East's Raheem Popoola (13) leads his team out onto the field before the game against Grand Island on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, at Seacrest Field.
Nebraska's Harper Murray (27) embraces Bergen Reilly (2) after scoring a kill against Creighton in the first set on Tuesday at the Devaney Sports Center. Nebraska's Tommi Hill (6) celebrates a pick-six during the first quarter of the game against Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Jacory Barney (17) celebrates as fans rush the field after the game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Terence "Bud" Crawford (center) takes the field next to Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (left) and Mikai Gbayor on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska fans storm the field after winning the game against Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 28-10.
Police investigate the scene of a shooting Sunday in downtown Lincoln near 11th and P streets where one man was killed and another man was injured. While teammate Dante Dowdell (23) celebrates a touchdown with his teammates, quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) reacts toward the home sideline in the first quarter on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) is tackled by Colorado's Shilo Sanders (21) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Wahoo players pray in the locker room ahead of their match against Ashland-Greenwood on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Wahoo High School.
Lincoln Southeast's Zayvion Campbell (left), Lincoln Southwest's Nathan Mensah (center) and Southeast's Mason Mehta (right) dive after the ball in the end zone during the second quarter on Friday at Seacrest Field. The play resulted in a Lincoln Southwest touchback. Ian Plumlee, of Lincoln, dances with his daughter, Josephine, 4, as Sandy Creek Pickers performs during the Nebraska Bluegrass Concert Series on Wednesday, Sept.
4, 2024, on Nebraska Innovation Campus. Jeff Gold speaks after being installed as the University of Nebraska's ninth president during an investiture ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
Junior Dylan Zephier (center) dances with senior Jordyn Guse next to senior Helina Cooper (back left) and freshman Liam Hoffschneider during a Unified music class, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at East High School. Nebraska's Dylan Raiola walks in the Legacy Walk on Saturday outside Memorial Stadium.
A great blue heron perches on a rock in the shallow water of Holmes Lake on Tuesday. Nebraska's Leyla Blackwell (11) throws a volleyball into the stands before the match against TCU on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at the Bob Devaney Center.
The Huskers run on to the field to kickoff the game against UTEP on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's MJ Sherman (48) sacks UTEP's Skyler Locklear (9) during the first quarter of the UTEP game on Saturday, Aug.
31, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Norfolk Catholic players line up on the field before during the game against Bishop Neumann on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, at Bishop Neumann in Wahoo.
Nebraska's Isaiah Neyor (18) catches a 59-yard touchdown pass while defended by UTEP's Jaylon Shelton (9) in the second quarter, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Bergen Reilly (2) watches a husker light show as a highlight reel of last year plays before the match on Friday, Aug.
30, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center. New University of Nebraska-Lincoln students run out onto the field during the tunnel walk tradition at Memorial Stadium on Friday. Lincoln Christian's Truman Paulsen holds the Spirit Sword after defeating Lincoln Lutheran on Friday at Aldrich Field.
Framed through a children's play set, Jordyn Anderson, 3, pushes her friend Jordan Lara, 4, in a Cozy Coupe toy at the playground outside at Las Abejitas' location at First Lutheran Church on Friday. Las Abejitas, one of only two bilingual child care centers in Lincoln, is opening a second location at First-Plymouth Church in September. Waverly celebrates after defeating Lincoln Lutheran in five sets Thursday at Lincoln Lutheran High School.
Thursday afternoon's football game between Lincoln East and Elkhorn South was postponed due to weather. The teams will make up the game Friday at Seacrest Field. Lincoln East's Deacon Gehle (from left) and Presley Hall practice passing back anf forth while waiting out a rain delay at Seacrest Field on Thursday, Aug.
29, 2024. From left, U.S.
Sens. Deb Fischer, Pete Ricketts, 3rd District Congressman Adrian Smith, 1st District Congressman Mike Flood and 2nd District Congressman Don Bacon attended the annual summit hosted by the Nebraska, Omaha and Lincoln chambers of commerce on Thursday at Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland. Runners, including Tyler Pooschke (first left) and Mak Krause (right) are led by run lead Trevor White (first right) as they take off along the Billy Wolff Trail for the first-ever run held by the Telegraph Run Club on Wednesday.
The new run club is meant to be a welcoming, open and free to any who wishes to join. Nebraska's Nash Hutmacher hands a football back to Henry Erikson of Beatrice, 8, and Brent Erikson during football fan day, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, at Hawks Championship Center.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or [email protected] . On Twitter @andrewwegley Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
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