Omaha – Voters in Nebraska’s First Congressional District will return to the polls Tuesday, June 28th, to decide who will serve out the unexpired term of former Congressman Jeff Fortenberry who resigned his office last March. The resignation triggered the Special Election with the Executive Committees of the Democrat and Republican parties determining the two candidates – Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln and Republican Mike Flood of Norfolk.
Both are attorneys, both are currently serving in the Nebraska Legislature, both won their party’s primary election last month, and both will face each other this November 8th in the general election. But before that, this Sunday, June 12th, both will face each other in a live one-hour debate from Burlington Station in Omaha to be broadcast on station KETV at 6:00pm (CDST).
Viewers can expect a heated exchange between the two. Pansing Brooks says she intends to hold Flood accountable for his votes in the state legislature against Nebraska’s working families. She says that nearly 60 elected and former officials from all across the political spectrum have endorsed her campaign for congress.
Flood openly says there are wide differences between him and his opponent – noting that Brooks is financially supported by Planned Parenthood and received a F- from the NRA. Flood has been endorsed by Governor Pete Ricketts, former Governor Dave Heineman, The Nebraska Catlemen, The Nebraska Sheriff’s Association, Lincoln Firefighters, The Nebraska Farm Bureau and a number of other local political and civic leaders.
In last month’s Election, Pansing Brooks received 31,808 votes out of 36,752 votes cast in a 2-way primary on the Democrat ballot and Flood received 61,257 votes out of 82,957 votes cast in a 5-way primary on the Republican ticket. Both candidates are counting on a large constituency of supporters voting later this month for a successful outcome.
KETV can be viewed off-air in portions of the First Congressional District and is also carried on many local cable systems.
