LINCOLN - Republican candidates in Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District primary race traded sharp political attacks in new campaign ads launched Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry charged in a radio ad that his main rival, State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, shares the same views on immigration as President Joe Biden, a Democrat the ad blames for a “flood of immigrants” at the border.

“Flood supported giving taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal immigrants, and Flood tried to raise our gas taxes by 30 cents a gallon,” said Fortenberry’s ad.

Flood fired back in a new television ad that features a rural sheriff, Todd Volk of Madison County, saying that Fortenberry has "lied" about the state senator's record on immigration and law and order.

“The truth? Mike is a law and order conservative,” Volk said. “He opposed in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.”

The race in the eastern Nebraska district has become more intense since Flood's recent announcement that he will challenge Fortenberry.

Fortenberry was recently charged with three felony counts alleging that he misled federal investigators probing illegal campaign contributions from a foreigner and Flood's latest ad makes sure to remind voters of the criminal indictments

The state senator, Gov. Pete Ricketts, and former Gov. Dave Heineman have said Republicans risk losing the 1st District seat if Fortenberry is the nominee.

The congressman has attacked Flood for leading the effort to override the 2012 veto by Heineman of a bill that provided state-paid prenatal care for immigrants, a move that was popular with liberal groups.

Flood argued that measure was a pro-life imperative as it would prevent costly birth defects. The effort was backed by Nebraska's leading right-to-life organizations as well.

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