LINCOLN- State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln officially announced a bid for U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s seat representing Nebraska’s 1st District in the U.S. House.

Fortenberry will be tasked with trying to hold onto the seat he’s held for over a dozen years while facing federal charges.

Pansing Brooks didn’t take any jabs at the sitting congressman for his current legal situation — but she did take aim at his recent vote against major infrastructure legislation.

Pansing Brooks, 63, is an attorney and was first elected in 2014 to represent the 28th District in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature. She’s not eligible to run for reelection to her legislative seat due to term limits. Now, she’s running as a Democrat for the congressional seat that Fortenberry, a Republican, has held since 2005.

In an interview, Pansing Brooks offered a message of unity, collaboration, and change. Her official campaign kickoff was scheduled for the evening of the 15th in Lincoln.

Pansing Brooks said she’s part of the fourth generation of her family to live in the district, and her kids represent a fifth. Among her key issues are expanding access to broadband, economic and workforce development, infrastructure, and health care. She also has a fundraising track record, serving as co-chair for a $6 million campaign for an urban park in Lincoln, the $9.6 million Centennial Mall renovation, and a $250 million Lincoln Public Schools bond issue in 2007, according to her website.

Chad Kolton, Fortenberry’s campaign spokesperson, said in a statement issued soon after the announcement: “Jeff Fortenberry has faithfully and effectively served Nebraska and America in Congress and will ask the voters to re-elect him in 2022 to continue that work. The contrast will be very clear: Patty Pansing Brooks will faithfully advance Joe Biden’s agenda and have to explain a chaotic economy, overrun border and dangerous foreign policy.”

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