By Joan von Kampen | Editor-in-chief
“I think the message is I'm a proven entity. I am rooted in this state, and I know its people, and I've delivered results.” — U.S. Rep. Mike Flood
“As I've talked to people around this district, they think … that having somebody that understands Iran and how we could have stayed out of this war would have been useful to have in Congress instead of a rubber stamp.” — challenger Chris Backemeyer
U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., left, and Democrat Chris Backemeyer will face off for Nebraska's 1st Congressional District in November 2026. (Candidate photos courtesy of respective campaigns | U.S. Capitol photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)
ELECTION 2026
By Juan Salinas II
As the political environment has worsened for Republicans, Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District is now viewed as more competitive than earlier in the cycle.
Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Flood has won his past two U.S. House elections by 20 and 16 percentage points. But Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have recently shifted Flood’s race from safe — or solid — Republican to likely Republican.
Four legislative races and one State Board of Education race feature only one candidate on the ballot. (Photos courtesy of the candidates/campaigns | Nebraska Capitol photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
ELECTION 2026
By Zach Wendling
In a year of twists and turns for some of Nebraska’s highest elected positions, there are no declared write-in candidates for congressional offices or for constitutional officers, the Legislature and state education boards.
Child care that is high quality and affordable is vital to Nebraska's economy. (Stock photo by Lourdes Balduque/Getty Images)
COMMENTARY
By Josh Shirk
Every year, as part of my job at Voices for Children in Nebraska, I gather the most up-to-date information on thousands of key child wellbeing indicators in the state of Nebraska. To take one example, we produce a map featuring the childcare capacity of all 93 counties in Nebraska. … By tracking this information, it is possible to pinpoint where in Nebraska there are critical shortages of childcare.
To determine this requires full and accurate information from the U.S. Census regarding the number of children living in Nebraska’s communities.
The 2026 candidates for Legislative District 36, from left: State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue and Darin Tompkins of Papillion. (Photos courtesy of the candidates/campaigns | Nebraska Capitol photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
ELECTION 2026
By Cindy Gonzalez
State Sen. Rick Holdcroft, the Republican incumbent with a 28-year military career, wants to resume a quest for a safe haven “baby box” law, while challenger Darin Tompkins, a Democrat, wants to “protect” public education and raise the bar on business incentives. Both want to rein in property taxes.
(Photo courtesy of the Iowa Board of Nursing)
HEALTH
By Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch
Iowa regulators have reinstated the license of a nurse previously sanctioned for alleged drug thefts in four different states.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
COMMENTARY
Nebraskans can lead to close the fissure | George Ayoub
EDITOR'S CHOICE
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