Mike Flood

Mike Flood
Born	23 2, 1975
Birthplace	Norfolk, Nebraska, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman, media executive
Title	U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 1st congressional district
Known for	U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 1st congressional district; former Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature
Education	University of Notre Dame (B.A.); Georgetown University (J.D.)

Michael Scott Flood (born February 23, 1975) is an American politician, attorney, and media executive serving as the U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 1st congressional district since 2022. A member of the Republican Party, Flood previously served in the Nebraska Legislature, where he rose to become the youngest Speaker of the Legislature in the state's history. Before entering federal politics, Flood built a career in media as the owner of several television and radio stations in Nebraska. His congressional tenure has been marked by a focus on agricultural policy, housing legislation, and federal appropriations for Nebraska communities. In February 2026, Flood announced his campaign for reelection to represent Nebraska's first congressional district.

Early Life

Mike Flood was born on February 23, 1975, in Norfolk, Nebraska. He grew up in the Norfolk area, a mid-sized city in northeastern Nebraska with deep agricultural roots. Flood's upbringing in a rural Nebraska community helped shape his later political focus on agricultural issues and rural economic development. He attended Norfolk Catholic High School before pursuing higher education out of state.

Education

Flood earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. He subsequently attended Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education at Georgetown provided the foundation for his careers in both law and public service.

Career

Nebraska Legislature

Flood was elected to the nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature, the only unicameral state legislature in the United States, representing the 19th legislative district based in Norfolk. He served in the Legislature from 2005 to 2013, the maximum two consecutive four-year terms permitted under Nebraska's term limits law. During his tenure, Flood was elected Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, a position he held from 2007 to 2013. At the time of his election as Speaker, Flood was the youngest person to hold that position in Nebraska history. As Speaker, Flood presided over the Legislature during a period that included significant budget deliberations during the national economic recession of the late 2000s and early 2010s.

Media and Business Career

Outside of public office, Flood became a prominent media executive in Nebraska. He founded and operated Flood Communications, a media company that owns and operates several television and radio stations across the state. His media holdings included stations in Norfolk and other Nebraska communities. This business background in media and communications distinguished Flood from many of his political peers and gave him familiarity with the economic challenges facing local media outlets in rural America.

U.S. House of Representatives

Flood was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a 2022 special election to fill the vacancy left in Nebraska's 1st congressional district. He subsequently won the general election in November 2022 for a full term and was reelected in 2024. In February 2026, Flood formally announced his campaign for reelection, launching the effort at an event in Papillion, Nebraska.

Committee Assignments and Legislative Focus

In the U.S. House, Flood serves on the House Financial Services Committee, where he holds the chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance. This position has given Flood a platform to advance housing policy legislation. In February 2026, Flood co-authored an op-ed with Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill titled "Bringing the American Dream Within Reach Again," outlining legislative priorities related to housing affordability and access.

One of Flood's key legislative initiatives has been the Housing for the 21st Century Act, which advanced to the full House for consideration. Flood emphasized the bipartisan nature of the legislation, noting that the bill received support from members of both parties during the committee process. The bill was forwarded from the House Financial Services Committee to the full House of Representatives in early 2026.

Agricultural Policy

Representing a district with a significant agricultural base, Flood has been an active voice on farm policy and trade issues in Congress. A prominent issue during his tenure has been the push for year-round availability of E15, a gasoline blend containing 15 percent ethanol. The ethanol industry is a major economic driver in Nebraska, and Flood has been involved in ongoing negotiations to achieve a legislative compromise on nationwide, year-round E15 sales. As of February 2026, Flood reported that lawmakers were working intensively to reach a compromise on the issue.

Flood has also been closely engaged with trade policy as it relates to agriculture. Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision in February 2026 that limited the President's authority to impose tariffs, Flood addressed the implications for American agriculture and trade. In an interview with the Lincoln Journal Star, Flood discussed the potential effects of the ruling on agricultural exports and broader trade relationships, noting that the decision could reshape the landscape of U.S. agricultural trade policy.

Federal Appropriations

As part of his work in Congress, Flood has been involved in securing federal funding for projects in Nebraska's 1st congressional district through the Community Project Funding process, which allows individual members of Congress to direct federal spending toward specific local projects. In February 2026, Flood announced the submission process for Community Project Funding and Federal Appropriations requests for fiscal year 2027, inviting organizations and entities in his district to submit proposals for federal funding consideration.

Homeland Security and Government Spending

During a visit to Lincoln, Nebraska, in February 2026, Flood discussed U.S. Department of Homeland Security spending in an interview with the Lincoln Journal Star, addressing federal spending priorities as part of broader discussions about government appropriations and fiscal policy.

Personal Life

Flood is a resident of Norfolk, Nebraska, where he has maintained deep community ties throughout his career. His roots in the Norfolk area extend from his childhood through his time in the Nebraska Legislature and his subsequent career in media. Flood's connection to the northeastern Nebraska community has been a consistent theme in his political career, and he has frequently emphasized his local ties while campaigning and in his legislative work. He and his wife have a family and reside in Norfolk.

Recognition

Flood's election as the youngest Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature represented a notable achievement in Nebraska state politics. His rise from the state legislature to the U.S. House of Representatives, along with his concurrent career as a media executive, has made him a prominent figure in Nebraska Republican politics. His chairmanship of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance has placed him in a position of influence on national housing policy.

Flood's bipartisan approach on certain legislative matters, particularly the Housing for the 21st Century Act, has been noted in media coverage of his congressional tenure.