Mike Flood (politician)

Michael John Flood (born February 23, 1975)[1] is an American attorney, businessman, and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Nebraska's 1st congressional district since July 2022.[2] A member of the Republican Party, he previously served two stints as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 19th district, from 2005 to 2013 and 2021 to 2022. He served as speaker of the Legislature from 2007 to 2013.

Mike Flood
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nebraska's 1st district
Assumed office
July 12, 2022
Preceded byJeff Fortenberry
Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 9, 2013
Preceded byKermit Brashear
Succeeded byGreg Adams
Member of the Nebraska Legislature
from the 19th district
In office
January 6, 2021 – July 11, 2022
Preceded byJim Scheer
Succeeded byRob Dover
In office
January 5, 2005 – January 9, 2013
Preceded byGene Tyson
Succeeded byJim Scheer
Personal details
Born
Michael John Flood

(1975-02-23) February 23, 1975
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMandi Flood
Children2
EducationUniversity of Notre Dame (BA)
University of Nebraska, Lincoln (JD)
WebsiteHouse website

Early life and education

Born in Omaha, Flood was raised in Norfolk, Nebraska. In 1993, he graduated from Norfolk Catholic High School in Norfolk, Nebraska. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame in 1997 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2001.

Career

Flood worked at a Norfolk radio station in high school. At the University of Notre Dame, he operated and hosted a show on the campus's radio station. After graduation, he worked as "Sideshow Mike" on WBYT's morning show for a year. Upon his return to Nebraska, he worked as a radio personality at Lincoln-based country station KFGE. In 1999, during his second year of law school, he launched KUSO as the first station in what would become Flood Communications.[3]

As of 2023, he owned 15 radio stations and seven television stations in Nebraska.[4][5][6] In 2015, Flood founded the News Channel Nebraska network, in which all television and radio stations participate.[7] NCN is Nebraska's only 24-hour news channel. Flood no longer solely owns the stations, having sold parts of the company to in-state investors.[8] In addition to being the operator of News Channel Nebraska, he was on-air talent, acting as a news reporter and hosting the variety show Quarantine Tonight during the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] Flood is also a named partner in Norfolk-based law firm, Jewell Collins & Flood.[10]

Nebraska Legislature
Flood speaking at the Walk for Life in Lincoln, Nebraska in January 2022

In 2004, Flood ran for a seat in the Nebraska Legislature, representing the 19th legislative district, which was coterminous with Madison County and included Norfolk. The incumbent, Gene Tyson, was retiring; Flood ran unopposed for the seat.[11][12][13] In 2010, he was named to Time's "40 Under 40" list as one of the rising stars in American politics.[14] During his first stint in the Nebraska Legislature, Flood introduced and successfully passed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, the nation's first 20-week abortion ban.[15] During a special legislative session in 2011, he successfully brokered a compromise that rerouted the Keystone XL pipeline.[16]

Flood left the Nebraska Legislature in 2013 due to term limits. He initially announced that he would run for governor in 2014, but withdrew from the race in December 2012 after his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.[17]

In August 2019, Flood announced he would run for office for the 2020 cycle in the 19th district, replacing Jim Scheer, who was termed out. Nebraska term limits only restrict consecutive terms.[18] He was unopposed in the 2020 election,[19] and returned to the Legislature for the 2021 legislative session.[20]

U.S. House of Representatives

2022 special election
See also: 2022 Nebraska's 1st congressional district special election

On January 16, 2022, Flood announced his candidacy in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, challenging the incumbent Republican Jeff Fortenberry to represent Nebraska's 1st congressional district.[21] Fortenberry resigned from office on March 31, 2022, following a felony conviction.[22] His resignation necessitated a special election, for which the Nebraska Republican Party nominated Flood. He defeated Democratic nominee Patty Pansing Brooks[23] by a narrower than expected margin.

2022
See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska

Flood was reelected in November, defeating Brooks in a rematch, 58% to 42%.[24]

Tenure

Flood was sworn into office by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on July 12, 2022.[25]

On August 12, 2022, Flood voted against the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.[26]

Caucus memberships

References
  1. "Rep. Mike Flood (R-Nebraska, 1st)". Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  2. "MIKE FLOOD WINS NEBRASKA CONGRESSIONAL SEAT". kscj.com. June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  3. "Mike Flood". northeast.newschannelnebraska.com. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  4. "Hall of Fame class to be honored at Norfolk Catholic". Norfolk Daily News. April 19, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  5. "From stunt man to state senator". Unicameral Update. January 26, 2005. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  6. Jacobson, Adam (November 2, 2021). "Mike Flood Expands His Company to Central Nebraska". Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  7. "News Channel Nebraska Expands Rural Coverage With TriCaster". NewTek. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  8. Independent, JEFF BAHR, The (October 16, 2021). "News Channel Nebraska proud of its connection to rural, Hispanic viewers". The Grand Island Independent. Retrieved May 23, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. Bureau, Paul Hammel World-Herald (August 23, 2020). "'Quarantine Tonight' show, Facebook concerts a hit with Nebraskans stuck at home". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  10. "Michael John Flood - Nebraska State Bar Association". Nebraska State Bar search.
  11. Nebraska Blue Book 2004–05; p. 308 for Flood's representing 19th district; p. 294 for map showing location of district. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  12. "Legislature losing 74 years of experience next year". Fremont Tribune. April 10, 2004. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  13. Warneke, Kent. "Flood to face challenge in his bid for re-election". Norfolk Daily News. March 4, 2008. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  14. Star, JoANNE YOUNG / Lincoln Journal (October 14, 2010). "Nebraska Legislature Speaker Flood one of Time's '40 under 40'". JournalStar.com. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  15. "Norfolk Daily News". October 22, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  16. Thomson, T.J. (November 16, 2011). "Pipeline rerouted, taxpayers to pay for survey". Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  17. Tallan, Erika (December 6, 2012). "Mike Flood Leaving Race for Nebraska Governor". Channel 10/11 - KOLN-TV.
  18. Guenther, Jerry (August 16, 2019). "Former senator, attorney and broadcaster getting back into politics". The Norfolk Daily News. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  19. "Legislative Races Range From Close To Nonexistent." NET Nebraska. October 6, 2020.
  20. Schulte, Grant. "Nebraska lawmakers preserve secret committee chair votes." Midland Daily News. January 21, 2021.
  21. "Flood challenges Fortenberry, says indictment puts House seat at risk". January 16, 2022.
  22. "Nebraska Rep. Fortenberry says he will resign following conviction for lying to FBI". NPR. March 26, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  23. "Nebraska GOP picks Mike Flood as special election candidate". 10/11 Now. April 9, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  24. Evnen, Bob. "Nebraska Secretary of State". Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  25. "Mike Flood sworn in to U.S. House of Representatives". Nebraska Public Media. July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  26. "Mike Flood talks FBI search, Inflation Reduction Act; says he's open to debates". KMTV. August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  27. "Membership". Republican Study Committee. December 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  28. "Candidates". RMSP PAC. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
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