The dark horse Independent candidate in Nebraska’s race to represent the First Congressional District is breaking onto the scene with notable fundraising numbers, also collecting sufficient signatures to make the November ballot.
Austin Ahlman, a 28-year-old former journalist from Norfolk and researcher with the anti-monopoly think-tank Open Markets Institute, shared his first fundraising numbers with Courier Nebraska on Monday in anticipation for the next FEC deadline in mid-July, which covers contributions through the end of June.
Ahlman’s campaign is boasting a fundraising total of over $100,000 amassed in a little more than six weeks since the campaign launched on May 13, the day after Nebraska’s primary election. The district’s incumbent Republican Mike Flood and Democratic candidate Chris Backemeyer advanced to the November ballot with their respective parties’ nomination following that primary.
Additionally, Ahlman’s campaign says it has collected over 2,000 signatures to place his name on the ballot—a necessary hurdle for Independent candidates unaffiliated with a state registered party running for local offices. These signatures will need to be verified by the Secretary of State’s office, with a turn in deadline set for August 3, 2026.
The Ahlman campaign characterized its debut fundraising haul as “unprecedented” for a “grassroots” candidate jumping in the race halfway through the fundraising quarter, which spans from the start of April through the end of June.
The surge, according to the campaign, was “fueled by small dollar donations from ordinary people of all political affiliations. No corporate PAC donations. No contributions from either party.”
“Hundreds of Nebraskans have chipped in to this campaign, and dozens have signed up to volunteer. It shows how hungry folks are to break free of broken party politics,” Ahlman said in a statement. “All across the district, people are excited about the idea of having something to vote for, instead of against.”
Ahlman also contrasted his fundraising record with those of his opponents, saying Flood and Backemeyer “have relied on max out donations from big money donors.”
While their Q2 reports for the Federal Election Commission are not public yet, Flood and Backemeyer have made significant fundraising strides this year.
From Jan. 1 to April 22, 2026, Flood raised $1,987,432 for his reelection bid. Of that, about $34,546 came from small dollar donations under $200—making up 1.7% of his fundraising.
In the same period, Backemeyer raised a total $354,179, with about $61,581 of that coming from small dollar donors—making up 17.3% of his fundraising.
While Ahlman’s Q2 report is also not public yet, he says he’s received more small-dollar donations than Flood reported over the entire cycle leading up to his previous numbers above, as well as outpacing Backemeyer.
Ahlman also claims to be outpacing the first six weeks of fundraising seen by Dan Osborn in his 2024 Independent bid for US Senate. Osborn’s working-class brand of politics, similar to Ahlman’s, won over voters in NE-01 in 2024, when Osborn finished +1.2 over incumbent Republican Deb Fischer in the district.
Ahlman’s late jump into the race has sparked questions among state political observers concerning his motives and support network. His campaign says its highest three donors consist of “a Nebraska high school teacher, a Tennessee college professor and friend, and the mother of one of Austin’s former debate students.”
The Nebraska Democratic Party is hoping Ahlman drops from the race to avoid splitting the “anti-Flood” vote. Reacting to a social media post from Sarpy County Democrats Chair Charlene Butts Ligon which cautioned voters last month, the party said, “Don’t let any other candidate try to mislead you with a doctored resume and an immense lack of experience.”
Despite this, Ahlman has earned the endorsement of the official Democratic nominee for US Senate in Nebraska—Cindy Burbank—who vowed to drop from the race to give Osborn a one-on-one against incumbent Republican Pete Ricketts this November.
Shortly after Ahlman jumped into the race in May, a Flood spokesperson told the Nebraska Examiner that he was “trying to sabotage the campaign of a Kamala Harris adviser because the Democratic Party is in shambles… While Backemeyer and Ahlman fight over which D.C. transplant finishes second, Congressman Flood will keep getting things done for Nebraskans.”
Courier Nebraska reached out to both the Backemeyer and Flood campaigns for statements on their Q2 fundraising totals.
The Backemeyer team said they raised roughly $260,000 in Q2, from April 23 to June 30.
“Our campaign continues to build real momentum heading into the general election,” the Backemeyer campaign told Courier Nebraska. “Voters across the district are looking for a leader who can win in November and deliver real solutions once in office. This is what electability looks like from the ground up.”
The Flood campaign did not respond.
