Chris Backemeyer

Chris Backemeyer once ran with the bulls in Pamplona, a story he offered when voters asked for an interesting fact about him.¹ He and his wife live in Lincoln with their three children.² Born and raised in Lincoln, he grew up near the Cass County farms his great great grandparents homesteaded.²

A Lincoln East High School graduate, Backemeyer earned bachelor's degrees in finance and political science at Arizona State University and a master's in international affairs at the University of California San Diego.³⁴ His earlier banking work focused on commercial and real estate financing.⁴ He says the September 11 attacks redirected him toward public service.²

Backemeyer served as the United States' lead sanctions negotiator in nuclear negotiations with Iran.⁴ He also directed Iran policy on the National Security Council staff and later became deputy assistant secretary for Iranian affairs.⁴ His career included work under Democratic and Republican administrations and advising in the vice president's office.²

He faces Republican incumbent Mike Flood, Libertarian Nik Sandman and America First candidate Dan Hartong in Nebraska's First District.⁵ Backemeyer proposes a public health insurance option, Medicare eligibility at 60 and extended Affordable Care Act premium tax credits.⁶ He supports a citizenship pathway and ending federal funding for immigration detention of children.⁷ His government reform agenda includes congressional stock trading restrictions and term limits.⁸