Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) on Tuesday met with a rowdy group of voters at Nebraska Wesleyan University as he faces off against Democrat Chris Backemeyer, a former diplomat, in the 2026 midterm elections.
As KETV Omaha reported, Flood was greeted by a silent protest outside the auditorium before his town hall began. Inside, it was not as quiet as Flood was dismissive of voters’ concerns and complaints.
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Voters demanded answers about cuts to healthcare while costs continue to rise and Republicans passed legislation delivering a tax cut to the wealthy and corporations.
When confronted with it, Flood asked his audience, “Why do I work so hard to pay my taxes for somebody that can work but chooses not to work?”
“That’s never come out of my mouth,” one voter said.
Another voter who said she was a CPA attacked Flood as telling half-truths to the people at the event. “Don’t lie to these people,” she said. “We’re losing democracy in this country and you don’t answer anyone’s questions … you guys are cowards.”
She noted that a lot of the policies that people like that came out of the GOP’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” passed in 2025 sunset in two years. Tax cuts to the wealthy are permanent.
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Flood said, only to be shouted down by the room as he tried to talk over her, claiming he was “treating her with respect. Answering your questions. But you didn’t have one, so we’ll move on to the next one.”
“Don’t cut her off!” they yelled.
Flood’s excuse for the bill that has grown increasingly unpopular with voters was that it was “something that President Donald Trump wanted.”
The audience booed.
“You never mentioned Iran,” said another attendee, Melanie Knight. “You never mentioned homeland security. You never mentioned a ballroom. In fact, $1.6 trillion has been added to the deficit.”
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Flood did get applause at a few points. At one point, he told the audience that whether or not the room votes for him, “I work for you.”
He touted the bipartisan affordable housing bill that was passed by the House and Senate. Trump said he wouldn’t sign it, but he didn’t veto it. So, it automatically became law.
“I have been focused on affordability,” Flood said. “I remain focused on affordability and increasing supply, [which] brings down prices.”
Trump has spent the past year claiming that Democrats “made up” the word “affordability” and that it isn’t a real thing. He called it a hoax.
Many in Flood’s audience left feeling unsatisfied.
“I wanted to hear for myself him explain why Congress has lost their backbone,” Lincoln resident Shirley Mora James told KETV.
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She added, “I felt like he did answer the questions.”
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