{
 "id": "epmsvn6pgw",
 "slug": "chris-backemeyer",
 "title": "Chris Backemeyer",
 "updated": "2026-09-29",
 "topic_path": [
  {
   "id": "society",
   "label": "Society and history",
   "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society"
  },
  {
   "id": "society.politics",
   "label": "Politics and government",
   "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics"
  },
  {
   "id": "society.politics.institutions",
   "label": "Government and public administration",
   "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions"
  },
  {
   "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders",
   "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)",
   "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders"
  },
  {
   "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates",
   "label": "US candidates for federal and statewide office",
   "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates"
  },
  {
   "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates",
   "label": "Candidates for the US House",
   "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates"
  },
  {
   "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates.alpha-a-to-b",
   "label": "Surnames A to B",
   "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates.alpha-a-to-b"
  }
 ],
 "geo": [
  {
   "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates",
   "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Candidates for the US House",
   "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates",
   "path": [
    {
     "id": "geo.us",
     "label": "United States",
     "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us"
    },
    {
     "id": "geo.us.t2021",
     "label": "United States · 2021 and later",
     "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021"
    },
    {
     "id": "geo.us.t2021.society",
     "label": "Society and history",
     "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society"
    },
    {
     "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics",
     "label": "Politics and government",
     "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics"
    },
    {
     "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions",
     "label": "Government and public administration",
     "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions"
    },
    {
     "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders",
     "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)",
     "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders"
    },
    {
     "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates",
     "label": "US candidates for federal and statewide office",
     "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates"
    },
    {
     "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates",
     "label": "Candidates for the US House",
     "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates"
    }
   ]
  }
 ],
 "excerpt": "Chris Backemeyer is an American politician and the 2026 Democratic nominee for the U.S. House in Nebraska's 1st congressional district, where he faces Republican incumbent Mike Flood in November.",
 "snippet": "Chris Backemeyer is an American politician and the 2026 Democratic nominee for the U.S. House in Nebraska's 1st congressional district, where he faces Republican incumbent Mike Flood in November.",
 "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-candidates.house-candidates.alpha-a-to-b",
 "markdown": "# Chris Backemeyer\n\nChris Backemeyer is an American politician and the 2026 Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in Nebraska's 1st congressional district.<sup>[1](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6NE01143/)</sup> He won the Democratic primary on May 12, 2026, and will face Republican incumbent [Mike Flood](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-flood-nebraska-politician), Libertarian Nik Sandman, and America First Party candidate Dan Hartong in the November 3, 2026, general election.<sup>[2](https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/2026pdates.pdf)</sup> Backemeyer, who was born and raised in [Lincoln, Nebraska](https://www.edgepedia.org/lincoln-nebraska), has a background in national security and has stated that he has \"sat in the Situation Room as tough decisions were made\" and \"confronted adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran.\"<sup>[3](https://backnebraska.com/priorities/)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Democratic<sup>[1](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6NE01143/)</sup> |\n| Current status | 2026 Democratic nominee, U.S. House, NE-1<sup>[1](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6NE01143/)</sup> |\n| Born | Lincoln, Nebraska<sup>[4](https://backnebraska.com/)</sup> |\n| Education | Lincoln East High School<sup>[4](https://backnebraska.com/)</sup> |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nBackemeyer is a Democrat. He filed as a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Nebraska's 1st district in 2026.<sup>[1](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6NE01143/)</sup>\n\n## Early life and education\n\nBackemeyer was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, miles from where his great-great-grandparents homesteaded family farms in Cass County.<sup>[4](https://backnebraska.com/)</sup> He is a graduate of Lincoln East High School.<sup>[4](https://backnebraska.com/)</sup>\n\n## Career\n\nBackemeyer has an extensive background in national security, having served at high levels of the federal government. According to his campaign website, he has \"brokered bipartisan legislation, briefed presidents and cabinet members, and confronted adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran.\"<sup>[3](https://backnebraska.com/priorities/)</sup> In 2026, he filed as a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Nebraska's 1st congressional district.<sup>[1](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6NE01143/)</sup>\n\n## Electoral history\n\n| Year | Office | Result |\n|---|---|---|\n| 2026 | U.S. House, NE-1 (Democratic primary) | Won<sup>[2](https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/2026pdates.pdf)</sup> |\n\n## Issues specific to Backemeyer\n\nBackemeyer's campaign has received endorsements from former Governor and U.S. Senator Ben Nelson, U.S. Senator Andy Kim, and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union.<sup>[5](https://backnebraska.com/latest-news/)</sup> His campaign has also been added to the [Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee](https://www.edgepedia.org/democratic-congressional-campaign-committee)'s \"Districts in Play\" program.<sup>[5](https://backnebraska.com/latest-news/)</sup>\n\n## Positions and voting record\n\n### Healthcare\n\nBackemeyer's campaign lists \"Making Healthcare Affordable & Accessible\" as a priority.<sup>[3](https://backnebraska.com/priorities/)</sup>\n\n### Immigration\n\nBackemeyer's campaign lists \"Smart, Fair Immigration and a Secure Border\" as a priority.<sup>[3](https://backnebraska.com/priorities/)</sup>\n\n### National security\n\nBackemeyer's campaign lists \"Restoring American Leadership & National Security\" as a priority.<sup>[3](https://backnebraska.com/priorities/)</sup> He has stated that he has \"confronted adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran.\"<sup>[3](https://backnebraska.com/priorities/)</sup>\n\n### Agriculture and rural communities\n\nBackemeyer's campaign lists \"Supporting Agriculture & Rural Communities\" as a priority.<sup>[3](https://backnebraska.com/priorities/)</sup>\n\n### Economy\n\nBackemeyer's campaign lists \"Lowering Costs & Restoring the Middle Class\" as a priority.<sup>[3](https://backnebraska.com/priorities/)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [FEC candidate profile](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6NE01143/)\n2. [FEC 2026 primary dates](https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/2026pdates.pdf)\n3. [Campaign priorities](https://backnebraska.com/priorities/)\n4. [Campaign homepage](https://backnebraska.com/)\n5. [Campaign news](https://backnebraska.com/latest-news/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US candidates for federal and statewide office › Candidates for the US House › Surnames A to B*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
 "same_as": [],
 "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-backemeyer",
 "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-backemeyer.md",
 "license": {
  "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0",
  "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license",
  "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.",
  "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0"
 },
 "credit": "\"Chris Backemeyer\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-backemeyer. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
 "credit_md": "\"[Chris Backemeyer](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-backemeyer)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-backemeyer](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-backemeyer). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).",
 "credit_html": "\"<a href=\"https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-backemeyer\">Chris Backemeyer</a>\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), <a href=\"https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-backemeyer\">https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-backemeyer</a>. <a href=\"https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\">Edgepedia Community License 1.0</a>.",
 "speakable": "Chris Backemeyer is an American politician and the 2026 Democratic nominee for the U.S. House in Nebraska's 1st congressional district, where he faces Republican incumbent Mike Flood in November."
}