LINCOLN — The Democratic candidate for Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District spent most of her life as a rock-ribbed Republican.

State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, a former co-chair of the Lancaster County Republican Party, grew up in a "very conservative" Republican household in Lincoln. She joined the GOP herself due to the party's traditional focus on the economy and fiscal responsibility.

Over time, Pansing Brooks found herself increasingly out of place in GOP politics, particularly in regard to social issues. Newer party positions clashed with her position on the Planned Parenthood board, her support for abortion rights, and her defense of a nephew who came out as gay in 1989.

Now, at 63, she is a democrat with a record of working across the aisle to find common ground.

“To me, it’s not about party,” she said. “It’s about doing the right thing. I vote for people. I vote for concerns. I don’t look at some sort of agenda from this party or that party.”

Being a Democrat now puts Pansing Brooks at a disadvantage in her attempt to represent the Republican-leaning 1st District. Republicans make up 46% of registered voters in the district, with Democrats at 29% and nonpartisan voters at 23%, according to the Secretary of State's Office.

The district encompasses all or parts of 12 counties in eastern Nebraska, including Lancaster and Sarpy counties. Additionally, the district includes Bellevue, Offutt Air Force Base, La Vista, most of Papillion, Fremont, Columbus, and Norfolk.

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