Mike Flood Leaving Race for Nebraska Governor

By: Erika Tallan and Owen Jensen

Updated: Fri 6:20 AM, Dec 07, 2012

Mike Flood and his wife, Mandi, hugging after he made his announcement to run for Governor on November 12.

Mike Flood and his wife, Mandi, and sons Brandon and Blake, posing for a picture after he announced his run for Governor on November 12.

Mike Flood and his son on January 4th, the opening day of the 2012 Legislative Session. It's tradition for Senators to bring their families to work at the start of the legislative session.

Mike Flood's son having fun in his dad's chair on January 4th, the opening day of the 2012 Legislative Session.

"We booked a trip on Tuesday to go to Disney world so we're leaving tomorrow (Friday) at 7 a.m. and we're just gonna enjoy ourselves. We're gonna come back next week and we're gonna take whatever steps we need to take and we're gonna be fine."

- Mike Flood

Nebraska's outgoing Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood is bowing out of the governor's race less than a month after he declared he was running.

Flood said Thursday that he is withdrawing from the 2014 race to care for his family because his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer this week.

"Nebraska is a great place to raise kids and families and right now I just need to be with mine," said Flood. "I feel really good about the decision I'm making because I know it's the right decision to make. I feel like this will bring us even closer together as a family. We booked a trip on Tuesday to go to Disney World so we're leaving tomorrow at 7 a.m. and we're just gonna enjoy ourselves. We're gonna come back next week and we're gonna take whatever steps we need to take and we're gonna be fine."

According to Flood's official campaign website, he married his best friend, Mandi Guernsey of Columbus, in 2003. Mandi has taught school in Albion and Norfolk since 2001.

Flood is a respected Republican lawmaker who helped broker compromises on difficult issues while leading the Legislature. But term limits are forcing him to leave office.

Current Gov. Dave Heineman cannot run in 2014 because of term limits. Republican Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy is running for the governor's job.