US Rep. Adrian Smith reelected in 3rd District; Backemeyer leads in NE-01

OMAHA — Republican U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith comfortably won Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District, while in the 1st District, Democratic challenger Chris Backemeyer was leading Republican Rep. Mike Flood late Tuesday.

The AP called the race for Smith about 10 p.m. Smith faced four candidates and, as expected, won reelection for another term. The 3rd District is one of the most conservative districts in the country.

Smith had over 70% of the vote as of 11:20 p.m. The leading runner-up, Democratic challenger Becky Lynn Stille, had about 21%. Nonpartisan candidate Mark Cohen got 3.4% and Legal Marijuana Now Party’s David Else and Nebraska Working People Party candidate Macey Budke were both just below 3%. 

In the 1st District race, Backemeyer was leading with 50% of the vote to Flood’s 46%. Libertarian Nik Sandman and America First candidate Dan Hartong each had less than 2%. 

A recurring issue in the race has been the Iran war. During the only debate of the campaign, Backemeyer emphasized his work on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal under then-President Barack Obama, saying the deal would have prevented the current war but was torn up for “partisan political purposes.”

Flood, much like other Republicans in midterm races, has acknowledged increased prices as a result of the U.S. government’s attack on Iran. Flood has pointed to tax cuts from Trump’s tax and spending law passed last year, and his role in passing a landmark housing law earlier this year as examples of the congressman delivering for constituents.