Austin Ahlman

Progressive journalist Austin Ahlman is running for Congress in Nebraska's first congressional district as a nonpartisan independent, challenging incumbent Rep. Mike Flood and Democratic nominee Chris Backemeyer. Ahlman criticizes Backemeyer as part of the establishment, while Backemeyer's campaign focuses on defeating Flood to stop harmful policies. The independent challenge complicates the Democrat path to unseat GOP incumbent Rep Mike Flood.

Progressive journalist Austin Ahlman is running for Congress in Nebraska's first congressional district as a nonpartisan independent, challenging incumbent Rep. Mike Flood and Democratic nominee Chris Backemeyer. Ahlman criticized Backemeyer as a creature of the establishment in D.C. The district is a solid Republican stronghold, making it difficult for Democrats to win. Ahlman's entry into the race may split the vote, complicating the Democrat path to unseat Rep. Mike Flood.

Austin Ahlman, a 28-year-old progressive independent journalist, is running for Congress in Nebraska's 1st District against Republican Mike Flood and Democrat Chris Backemeyer on an anti-monopolist platform. Unlike independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn who convinced Democrats to drop out of his race, Ahlman is competing in a three-way race, relying on polling that shows him leading Flood by 4 points in head-to-head matchups.