Carol Blood

Carol Blood (born March 5, 1961) is a politician from the U.S. state of Nebraska. In 2016, she was elected to the unicameral Nebraska Legislature, representing District 3 in Sarpy County. She defeated Republican incumbent Tommy Garrett. Blood is a member of the Democratic Party. The legislature is nonpartisan.

Early life and career

Blood was born in McCook, Nebraska. She attended Adams Central High School in nearby Hastings, Nebraska. In 2008, Blood was elected to the Bellevue, Nebraska, City Council as the at-large representative. She was re-elected to the city council in 2012. She previously served as executive director of the La Vista Chamber of Commerce. Blood has been a member of the Bellevue Public Safety Foundation Board since 2005, serving as chair for seven years. The organization supports police and fire department activities in Bellevue. Blood currently lives in Bellevue with her husband, Joe. They have three children and seven grandchildren.

Political career

2014 election

In 2014, Blood was defeated by Tommy Garrett in a race to fill the two years remaining of a four-year legislative term vacated by state senator Scott Price, who resigned in November 2013.

Garrett had been appointed to the seat by Governor Dave Heineman. In Nebraska, an appointed state legislator must run in the next election to keep their seats.

Blood and Garrett, who both ran uncontested in the nonpartisan primary, moved onto the general election. In the primary, Blood received 1,706 votes, or 49.4%, of the 3,453 votes cast. Garrett received 1,747, or 50.6%. In the general election, Blood received 4,179, or 46.3%, of 9,024 votes cast. Garrett received, 4,845 votes, or 53.7%.

2016 election

In 2016, Blood defeated Republican incumbent Tommy Garrett with 7,959, or 51.4%, of the 15,488 votes cast. Garrett received 7,476 votes, or 48.3%. Blood's campaign focused on "common sense tax relief" and eliminating taxes on social security and military retirement once Nebraska lawmakers address a $1 billion budget shortfall.

Blood said her history of "evidence-based budgeting" will help with tax reform. She also has said education and public safety are among her top priorities.

Legislative tenure

2017 session

Blood serves on the Agriculture, General Affairs, and Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs committees.