Mike Flood (politician)

Early life, family education

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Flood was raised in Norfolk, Nebraska. In 1993, he graduated from Norfolk Catholic High School in Norfolk. 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.

As of 2023, he owned 15 radio stations and seven television stations in Nebraska. In 2015, Flood founded the News Channel Nebraska network, in which all television and radio stations participate. 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. 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.

Nebraska Legislature

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. 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. During a special legislative session in 2011, he successfully brokered a compromise that rerouted the Keystone XL pipeline.

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.

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. He was unopposed in the 2020 election, and returned to the Legislature for the 2021 legislative session.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2022 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. Fortenberry resigned from office on March 31, 2022, following a felony conviction. His resignation necessitated a special election, for which the Nebraska Republican Party nominated Flood. He defeated Democratic nominee Patty Pansing Brooks by a narrower than expected margin, 53%-47%.

2022

Flood was reelected in November, defeating Brooks in a rematch, 58%-42%.

2024

Flood was reelected, defeating Democrat Carol Blood, 60%-40%, winning every county in the district.

Tenure

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

Flood voted to provide Israel with support following the 2023 Israeli invasion of Gaza.

In March 2024, it was reported that Flood had been pursued to serve as president of the University of Nebraska system. Flood declined the job to stay in Congress.

During a contentious 2025 town hall, Flood said, "I support Elon Musk and DOGE" amid questions from town hall participants about Musk's actions in government and conflicts of interest.

In July 2025, Flood was elected unanimously to serve as chair of the Republican Main Street Caucus.

Committee assignments

For the 119th Congress:

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions
  • Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance (Chairman)

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Ukraine Caucus
• Congressional Western Caucus
• Rare Disease Caucus
• Republican Study Committee
• Republican Main Street Partnership

References

References

1. "Rep. Mike Flood (R-Nebraska, 1st)".
2. (June 29, 2022). "MIKE FLOOD WINS NEBRASKA CONGRESSIONAL SEAT".
3. "FLOOD, Mike". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
4. "Mike Flood".
5. (2 November 2021). "Mike Flood Expands His Company to Central Nebraska".
6. "News Channel Nebraska Expands Rural Coverage With TriCaster".
7. Bahr, Jeff. (October 16, 2021). "News Channel Nebraska proud of its connection to rural, Hispanic viewers".
8. Hammel, Paul. (August 23, 2020). "'Quarantine Tonight' show, Facebook concerts a hit with Nebraskans stuck at home".
9. Star, JoANNE YOUNG / Lincoln Journal. (October 14, 2010). "Nebraska Legislature Speaker Flood one of Time's '40 under 40'".
10. (22 October 2022). "Norfolk Daily News".
11. (16 November 2011). "Pipeline rerouted, taxpayers to pay for survey".
12. Tallan, Erika. (Dec 6, 2012). "Mike Flood Leaving Race for Nebraska Governor". Channel 10/11 - [[KOLN-TV]].
13. Guenther, Jerry. (August 16, 2019). "Former senator, attorney and broadcaster getting back into politics".
14. "Legislative Races Range From Close To Nonexistent." NET Nebraska. October 6, 2020. [http://netnebraska.org/article/news/1237141/legislative-races-range-close-nonexistent]
15. Schulte, Grant. "Nebraska lawmakers preserve secret committee chair votes." Midland Daily News. January 21, 2021.[https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Nebraska-lawmakers-preserve-secret-committee-15888676.php]
16. (January 16, 2022). "Flood challenges Fortenberry, says indictment puts House seat at risk".
17. (March 26, 2022). "Nebraska Rep. Fortenberry says he will resign following conviction for lying to FBI". NPR.
18. (April 9, 2022). "Nebraska GOP picks Mike Flood as special election candidate". 10/11 Now.
19. "Nebraska Secretary of State".
20. "Official Results".
21. (July 12, 2022). "Mike Flood sworn in to U.S. House of Representatives". Nebraska Public Media.
22. Demirjian, Karoun. (2023-10-25). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times.
23. (2023-10-25). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session".
24. (March 16, 2024). "Divide within NU regents stalled search for successor to President Ted Carter". Omaha World-Herald.
25. (2025). "Voters boo Nebraska Republican over Musk, Ukraine, Trump tariffs during raucous town hall". The Hill.
26. (2025-07-22). "Main Street Caucus Elects Rep. Flood as Chair {{!}} Main Street Caucus".
27. "List of Standing Committees and Select Committees of the House of Representatives". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
28. "Members". Congressional Ukraine Caucus.
29. "Caucus Memberships". Congressional Western Caucus.
30. "Rare Disease Congressional Caucus". Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases.
31. (December 6, 2017). "Membership".
32. "Candidates".
33. [http://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/l3000/D001-200405.pdf ''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.
34. Warneke, Kent. [http://norfolkdailynews.com/news/flood-to-face-challenge-in-his-bid-for-re-election/article_710a2e5d-79a3-5680-a912-63aa684c6dec.html "Flood to face challenge in his bid for re-election".] [http://norfolkdailynews.com/ ''Norfolk Daily News''.] March 4, 2008. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
35. [http://norfolkdailynews.com/news/hall-of-fame-class-to-be-honored-at-norfolk-catholic/article_e51a93c0-250c-11e7-b7a3-b3964551c512.html "Hall of Fame class to be honored at Norfolk Catholic".] [http://norfolkdailynews.com/ ''Norfolk Daily News''.] April 19, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
36. [http://fremonttribune.com/news/local/legislature-losing-years-of-experience-next-year/article_5763c053-8f9f-5724-9a49-c8ec21dac2d5.html "Legislature losing 74 years of experience next year".] [http://fremonttribune.com/ ''Fremont Tribune''.] April 10, 2004. Retrieved December 23, 2017.