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LINCOLN — Democrats in eastern Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District picked former diplomat Chris Backemeyer as the party’s nominee to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Flood this fall.
And Republicans in Nebraska’s 3rd District, its largest and most conservative, advanced U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., again after a spirited challenge from a former border patrol agent, David P. Huebner of North Platte.
Backemeyer faced renewable energy advocate Eric Moyer. He led 57%-43% as of 1 a.m. Wednesday. Flood, a former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, ran unopposed.
“Running for office for the first time, I knew this would be a challenge,” Backemeyer said in a statement. “What I found along the way was something I won’t forget — neighbors who care deeply about their community and the people in it.”
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Said Flood: “While Washington is gridlocked, I am getting things done: passing bipartisan legislation to lower housing costs, supporting the largest tax cut in American history and delivering more than $100 million in federal funding.”
Smith led Huebner early Wednesday 65%-35% with many of the smallest rural counties still reporting few results. On the Democratic side in the 3rd District, Becky Kelly Stille of South Sioux City ran unopposed. David Else of Overton will also join the general election, representing the Legal Marijuana NOW Party.
Two other potential candidates, Mark Cohen of Lemoyne and Macey Budke of North Platte, are circulating petitions to appear as nonpartisan candidates in the 3rd District. The due date is Aug. 3 to qualify for the Nov. 3 ballot.
Smith told Nebraska Public Media News on Tuesday that he’s been “running on my record of listening to Nebraskans.” He said they “know my conservative record of really addressing waste.”
Most local congressional election experts expect Flood to win another term this fall. But they acknowledge that weird things happen in wave election years. Smith is a heavier favorite.
Examiner Reporter Zach Wendling contributed to this report.
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