Progressive Journalist Austin Ahlman Launches Independent Bid for Nebraska's 1st District

Progressive journalist Austin Ahlman announced Thursday that he is running for Congress in Nebraska's first congressional district as a nonpartisan independent. He is challenging incumbent Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., and Democratic nominee Chris Backemeyer.

Ahlman works for the progressive outlet The Intercept. He entered the race two days after his opponents advanced in their primaries.

Flood has held the seat since winning a special election in 2022. Backemeyer, the Democratic challenger, is a former State Department employee. He worked in President Barack Obama's administration and served as a special adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris on national security and policy issues.

Ahlman called Backemeyer a "creature of the establishment in D.C." He said he sees little difference between the Democrat and Flood.

"I have taken on the corporations that are actually hollowing out our state. I have uncovered the corruption among the politicians that are crushing us and selling us out. And I don't think that either one of the two can say that," Ahlman told the Lincoln Journal Star.

"I think that they have just been a part of the system. They are the establishment, and I am not that. I'm actually from the working class," he said.

Flood won his 2022 special election by five points. He took the general election that year by 15 points and beat his opponent by more than 20 points in 2024. Nebraska's first district is a solid Republican stronghold, according to the Cook Political Report.

Cook says it would take weak Republican turnout and strong Democratic turnout to flip the district. Ahlman's entry adds complexity. Some Nebraska political leaders told local press the progressive could split the vote.

"Mike Flood has failed this district, and splitting the vote with a fringe third candidate won’t fix that," Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said in a statement to the Nebraska Examiner. "Nebraska doesn’t need noise from either extreme. We need a steady, experienced leader who will fight for fairness and protect our democracy. That’s Chris Backemeyer."

Backemeyer’s campaign told the Examiner, "After winning almost every county by a large margin in the primary, Chris is focused on defeating Congressman Flood in order to stop Trump’s tariffs, devastating healthcare cuts and illegal war that are hurting Nebraskans."

Flood's team called the independent challenge a sign of Democratic weakness. They said Ahlman is trying to sabotage the campaign of a Kamala Harris adviser because the Democratic Party is in shambles.

"While Backemeyer and Ahlman fight over which D.C. transplant finishes second, Congressman Flood will keep getting things done for Nebraskans," Flood spokesperson Daniel Bass told the Examiner.

Fox News Digital contacted the Ahlman, Backemeyer and Flood campaigns for additional comment.