Michael Connely
Michael Connely (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Nebraska's 1st Congressional District. He lost in the Republican primary on May 14, 2024.
Connely completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Michael Connely was born in Broken Bow, Nebraska. Connely served in the United States Marine Corps from 1979 to 2000. He earned a military citation in 1980. He earned an associate degree from Palomar College in 1988. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of the State of New York in 1988. He pursued undergraduate study at Los Angeles Community College, the University of Maryland, the University of Nebraska Omaha, and Excelsior College. He attended the University of Oklahoma, the International English Communications College (Japan), and the Heriot Watt University (Scotland) for graduate study.[1][2][3][4]
Connely's professional experience includes working in communication/navigation aviation electronics, as an educational director, as a testing administrator with the U.S. Department of Defense, as a founder and president with a book publishing company, and in agribusiness. He has served as a state quality assurance director, student affairs director, in genetic analysis, as a business development director, and in professional speaking. He obtained a military intelligence final secret clearance. He also has a New York teaching certification, a medical laboratory certification, and Japanese educational administration certification.[1][2][3]
Elections
2024
See also: Nebraska's 1st Congressional District election, 2024
Nebraska's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (May 14 Republican primary)
Nebraska's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (May 14 Democratic primary)
Incumbent Mike Flood and Carol Blood are running in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on November 5, 2024. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 1
Mike Flood (R)
Carol Blood (D)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1
Carol Blood advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on May 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Carol Blood | 100.0 | 34,888 | |
| Total votes: 34,888 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1
Incumbent Mike Flood defeated Michael Connely in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 1 on May 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mike Flood | 81.5 | 56,846 | |
| Michael Connely | 18.5 | 12,884 | ||
| Total votes: 69,730 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ava Solomon (R)
Endorsements
Connely received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
2022
See also: Nebraska gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022
Jim Pillen defeated Carol Blood, Scott Zimmerman, Robert Borer, and Dave Wright in the general election for Governor of Nebraska on November 8, 2022. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.General election for Governor of Nebraska
✔ Jim Pillen (R)
398,334 Carol Blood (D)
242,006 Scott Zimmerman (L)
26,455 Robert Borer (Independent) (Write-in)
0 Dave Wright (Independent) (Write-in)
0 Other/Write-in votes 5,798 Total votes: 672,593 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Nebraska
Carol Blood defeated Roy Harris in the Democratic primary for Governor of Nebraska on May 10, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Carol Blood | 88.7 | 88,859 | |
 | Roy Harris | 11.3 | 11,267 | |
| Total votes: 100,126 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Nebraska
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Nebraska on May 10, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jim Pillen | 33.9 | 91,555 | |
| Charles Herbster | 29.9 | 80,771 | ||
| Brett Lindstrom | 26.1 | 70,554 | ||
| Theresa Thibodeau | 6.1 | 16,432 | ||
| Breland Ridenour | 1.7 | 4,685 | ||
| Michael Connely | 1.1 | 2,838 | ||
| Donna Nicole Carpenter | 0.6 | 1,536 | |
| Lela McNinch | 0.4 | 1,192 | ||
| Troy Wentz | 0.3 | 708 | |
| Total votes: 270,271 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for Governor of Nebraska
Scott Zimmerman advanced from the Libertarian primary for Governor of Nebraska on May 10, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Scott Zimmerman | 100.0 | 1,595 | |
| Total votes: 1,595 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2020
See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2020
Eliot Bostar defeated Jacob Campbell in the general election for Nebraska State Senate District 29 on November 3, 2020. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.General election for Nebraska State Senate District 29
✔ Eliot Bostar (Nonpartisan)
11,167 Jacob Campbell (Nonpartisan)
9,869 Total votes: 21,036 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Nebraska State Senate District 29
The following candidates ran in the primary for Nebraska State Senate District 29 on May 12, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jacob Campbell (Nonpartisan) | 32.4 | 3,886 |
| ✔ | Eliot Bostar (Nonpartisan) | 27.0 | 3,236 | |
| Jennifer Carter (Nonpartisan) | 22.5 | 2,702 | |
| Neal Clayburn (Nonpartisan) | 8.5 | 1,023 | |
| Lisa Lee (Nonpartisan) | 7.3 | 881 | |
| Michael Connely (Nonpartisan) | 2.2 | 263 | ||
| Total votes: 11,991 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michael Connely completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Connely's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Former State Quality Assurance Director US Census Former Candidate for Governor
I worked full time in Asia from the year 2,000 through 2016. I returned to the USA (Nebraska) to try and help everyone prepare for what was coming. There is a storm coming and nobody seems to notice.
As a Marine who worked in military intelligence, I could see what was happening with China. They are engaged in a massive military buildup, the likes of which has never been seen before in human history. The Chinese have always had a 3:1 advantage over us in ground force strength (100:1 if they call up their reserve forces) but we ruled in all other areas. In the year 2020, they surpassed us in Naval strength. In 2023 they surpassed us in air strength. The Heritage Foundation currently lists our Air Force as "very weak". By late 2025, they will surpass us in nuclear strength as well.
I fully expect us to be in a defensive war with China starting sometime from 2026-2030.
I could go into multiple other reasons motivating me to run for office, but most of them are linked to the Communist Chinese Party Threat.
The flood of illegals across our Southern Border includes a large number of young military age Chinese males. How many here realize that ALL Chinese leaving communist China must be given permission to leave the country. Those thousands or tens of thousands were SENT here by China. More details on my webpage www.connelyforcongress.com Read the news section.
- In Nebraska's 1st Congressional District, there are two candidates on the Republican ticket. One is a centrist, exactly dead center in political ideology between conservative and liberal, between individual focus and national focus. The other candidate is a strong conservative with a strong focus on individual rights and freedoms. As a Nebraskan, which type of candidate do you want representing you, a centrist, which you have, or a strong conservative who does not own statewide news services in Nebraska. You choose.
- What is happening on our southern border is an all out invasion. We know that that Biden family gets millions from Chinese companies for doing, as of yet, unidentified functions. We also know that the main ethnic group crossing the southern border are Chinese. We also know that the CCP must authorize departure of ANYONE leaving China. We also know that all military age males are by law Reservists in the Chinese Army. It has been reported by the author of "Blood Money" on the Glenn Beck Program that Chinese crossing the border illegally must only answer 7 questions to be streamlined into the USA, compared to the 40+ questions that must be answered by all others. This is what appears to be the start of a land invasion
- Our Justice Department has been completely weaponized. Hundreds of January 6 prisoners have been denied bail, denied a speedy court trial, and many were put into solitary confinement to force them to take a plea deal admitting to wrongdoing when in many cases our video evidence now shows no crimes were committed. All January 6 prisoners must be immediately released on bail. Judges must be impeached and prosecuting attorneys must be disbarred. The FBI must be disbanded as a law enforcement unit and only be allowed to offer investigative evidence to state and local law enforcement. Our Justice system must have ethics check as other countries do instead of allowing bad judges to run rampant.
At our current rate of debt increase, our country will cease to exist as a nation in only a matter of years. Even now it may be too late to save the USA, but we MAY be able to do it if we make serious and dramatic changes. We MUST eliminate 50% or more of our Federal government in 2025. In Argentina, the newly elected President eliminated 9 of the 18 departments of the national government and that country is now running a budget surplus, which will allow them to pay off their debt. IF elected, my office WILL make a national budget that eliminates entire departments and shrinks some departments down to offices. We CAN have a budget surplus which we need to pay off our debts. If we do not take immediate action, we will be bankrupt soon
Brian Tracy, Earl Nightingale, Ronald Reagan
Imagine a mix of Rand Paul, Jim Jordan and you can understand my philosophy. If you look at Activote, candidates answer various questions that show their political philosophy. I am a strong conservative with a push for individual rights and freedoms. My opponent is a centrist who wants to get along with all groups. You choose which you want as a representative.
Integrity
Courage
Strength
Empathy
Transparency when it does not compromise national security.
Thriftiness, as we MUST end the Santa Claus mentality.
These are the most important characteristics that an elected official must have.
This is a repeat of an earlier question.
The core responsibilities are to ensure, as the representatives of the state, that the people of the state are both defended, have opportunity for life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and not be taken advantage of by a rogue out of control government. At this time, those are the most important functions.
This is a derivative of an earlier question.
The first historical event I remember I remember was the assassination of President Kennedy. I was not yet three years old. I do remember things before I was able to walk well. Years later the most impressionable event was watching the moon landing during early elementary.
I sold seeds door to door during the summer. I was 7 years old. I did this until I was 10 and then I sold Grit Magazines on my own paper route.
The Bible, as it is really many books which have history, morality, laws, philosophy, and science. How many people realize that there is advance Astronomy in the book of Job. I teach this to my students. How many others realize that the Theory of Evolution goes hand in hand with Creationism. Simple conclusion is that GOD is a genetic engineer.
Batman probably.
White and Nerdy by Weird Al Yankovic
Every day is an exciting challenge, never a struggle.
IT is supposed to control the purse strings AND it is the best indicator of public opinion as the term is only for 2 years.
Having some knowledge of it can be useful, but an intelligent representative can be up and running at full speed within a few weeks.
We will be at war before 2030. Our US dollar is rapidly losing its World Reserve Currency status as the British Pound did before we took it over. We are going bankrupt with no end in sight to the rampant Santa Claus complex that our politicians have. Our family structure is being broken down with help from the massive donations from the CCP to anti family activist groups in the USA. (All the rioting in Oregon a couple of years ago was funded by the CCP)
Yes, however it would be good to limit campaigning to just 30 days before and election. Work instead of campaigning.
I believe all Congressmen should be limited to 3 terms (6 years) and Senators should be limited to 2 terms (12 years). If they cannot make great improvements in that amount of time, they will never get it done. At this point is is more of a club for the rich and powerful.
I am very unique, and it is doubtful I can find someone with all my same characteristics. so NO.
Two stories I heard while I was running for Governor I remember well. One was a health care worker who told me that since Obama care was implemented, it was quite difficult to get paid from insurance companies. What used to take days or weeks, now takes months.
The second story was about a lady with cancer, who told me that ALL of her neighbors had cancer and they had all gotten it after a large cell phone tower had been installed near their homes.
It involves Joe Biden, limited parachutes, and the accidental taking of an elementary students backpack. I will leave that up to your imagination.
I will not stand by idly in the presence of evil, nor will I compromise on what is good and right.
This IS the top priority for Congress. My office will make a budget that eliminates entire departments and has a budget surplus. The biggest job will be convincing others to step up and help save the country.
With all of the corruption in our government, YES the US House should use its investigative powers.
Prolife organizations, 2nd Amendment organizations, Christian organizations, Law enforcement organizations, and Patriot organizations (and a handful of GOP groups)
I must coordinate with like minded individuals after the election to see in which committees I can be the most influential.
I am VERY stringent on this. We have given billions to Ukraine with NO oversight. ALL funding should immediately stop unless it has strict oversight and financial transparency.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Connely’s campaign website stated the following:
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Immediate halt to ALL immigration that is undocumented. This included a 100% deportation rate for those crossing illegally, with confiscation of ALL money cards and phones given to them by the Biden Administration either directly or through UN agencies funded by the US. Illegals already residing and working here MUST complete legal paperwork to be accepted for work, but must leave the USA to complete the paperwork. This is Standard Operating Procedure for nearly every civilized country in the world. Elimination of multiple departments in the Federal Government. At this point, we cannot have a balanced budget, we need a surplus so we can begin paying DOWN the debt. This means entire departments must be eliminated with all information archived. Other departments need to be shrunk down to offices. We CANNOT kick the can down the road or we will be spending all our tax dollars just to pay the interest on our debt. Investigate all isolated areas in the continental USA for potential military forward operating bases. There are credible sources indicating that the CCP, during Obama's 2nd term, were allowed to set up forward operating bases within the boundaries of our country. This must be investigated. Arrest and convict justice department officials who are devastating the constitutional rights of J6 Political prisoners We now have video evidence that shows the majority of these defendants are merely selfie grabbing individuals. Other individuals who assisted the police have also been targeted. Complete support of one of our closest allies, ISRAEL. I trained along side IDF (Israeli military) while in the US military. I consider them brothers in arms. The IDF are some of the most professional and humane of any military forces. If they decide to make GAZA into a big farming region and move all those who lived there to the West Bank, they would be completely justified; and not for JUST what happened on October 7. Decisive military action should have been taken years ago. Imagine the US response if a neighboring area lobbed rockets into our communities. [5] |
” |
| —Michael Connely’s campaign website (2024)[6] | ||
2022
Michael Connely completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Connely's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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WHO AM I?
I am a patriotic, aggressive Maine Corp Sgt who is not politically correct.
My youthful choice of stupidity included, jumping off corn quonsets into hay stacks (painful), jumping over our house with a 125 Kawasaki motorcycle (successful), going water skiing when there was still ice on the water (bad idea), and ripping flesh from my shin bone trying to show off how high I could jump, and then sewing it back up (you need pliers, needle +thread). I have cleaned pigsties, loaded iron, stacked concrete, detasseled corn, stacked hay, been a driver, a store clerk, a waiter, a newspaper boy, and a worker on an assembly line. I have worn most hats.
In the military I have walked through machine gun nests, been blown down runways, and have huddled half frozen on the Korean plains during operation Team Spirit.
I am just an average Nebraskan, originally from Broken Bow. My family has been in Nebraska for 7 generations. I know what Nebraska was, and what we have lost. I want it back.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Military
Helicopter Communications/Navigation Military Intelligence Security NBC Disaster Preparation Military Medical Laboratory Military Police
Government
Department of Defense (Testing Administrator) US Census State Quality Assurance Director (Nebraska) Foreign Advisor (Japanese Ministry of Education)
Civilian
Mechanical and Electrical Assembly Residential Construction Agriculture (Seed Corn, Ranching, Agroforestry)
- Precinct by precinct, computer manipulation in our election will be investigated. If guilty, the computer executives will be arrested and prosecuted.
- Wasteful bureaucratic independent agencies SHALL be brought under control and dramatically scaled back.
- Eroded rights SHALL be restored.
I do not believe in making idle promises. I believe in taking action. I have 10 legal initiatives out which are getting signatures every day across the state. I have 10 more waiting for the next initiative period.
These include:
- Replacing the State Department of Education
- Medical Freedom (No Mandates)
- Election Judicial Panel
- Stand Your Ground Gun Right Restoration and many other right restoration rules.
Teddy Roosevelt “Speak softly and carry a big stick”
Ronald Reagan “Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem”
Donald Trump “I do not have time to be politically correct and neither does America”
Brian Tracy “The act of taking the first step is what separates the winners from the losers.”
Look up my mentors.
Already addressed this.
Already addressed this.
Reform and restructure the Nebraska Legislature...
Simplify and dramatically downsize the Nebraska Government...
Make Nebraska able to stand on its own as an independent state in emergency situations...
November 22, 1963. Kennedy was shot. I had no idea who he was as I was not quite 3 years old, but I knew what getting shot meant.
My first job was door to door sales of greeting cards when I was 7 years old.
One Second After. Read it and you will see why.
Batman... Taking a mere human and doing great things with physical limitations.
I am a musician, no one song gets stuck in my head.
Sleep, it interferes with my work and study.
Those with the greatest power have the responsibility to do the most good.
No comment, these questions are becoming trivial. There are other more pressing concerns.
No comment, these questions are becoming trivial. There are other more pressing concerns.
No comment, these questions are becoming trivial. There are other more pressing concerns.
No comment, these questions are becoming trivial. There are other more pressing concerns.
No comment, these questions are becoming trivial. There are other more pressing concerns.
My family has been in Nebraska for 7 generations. It is my home.
We will not last a decade at this rate.
It is DEFINITELY not politically correct.
No comment, these questions are becoming trivial. There are other more pressing concerns.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Note: Connely submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on January 31, 2022.
2020
Michael Connely completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Connely's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Michael Connely, Service-Disabled Military Veteran USMC
Passionate about the environment; health and safety of my family, friends and neighbors; simplification of governmental regulations, and the guarding of personal freedoms.
Nebraska is a good place to be, but I want to help make it the best place to be. I want Nebraska to be the shining light on the hill for every other state to admire and copy. I want us to be more than just the greatest football fans in the world.
State Senators should be YOUR direct link to the government
Born in Broken Bow Nebraska. Worked as many have in the cornfields of Nebraska detasseling and rouging. Joined the USMC after high school, worked on Helicopter Communication/Navigation Systems and Military Intelligence, Medical Laboratory and Military Police in the USA, Japan and Korea. Additional Military Training in Nuclear Biological Chemical Disaster Preparation.
After the military, attended various colleges completing over 300 semester credit hours with majors in Political Science, Sociology, Business, Education, and Medical Lab. During the US Census, worked as State Quality Assurance Director. Worked overseas for the Japanese Ministry of Education Most recently the Director of high-level Academic Schools in Japan.
Hobbies: Playing the piano, whistling, singing Raising chickens, horses, alpacas Sitting all day reading books at Barnes and Noble Studying medical research and genetic analysis Watching old movie
- Your State Senator should be your first line of defense against inappropriate government action. If you have been wronged, I want to know about it.
- We have certain rights that are guaranteed by our constitution. I will support all of our country's constitutional laws and fight the unconstitutional ones.
- There are at times, economic forces that are at odds with the health and safety of Nebraskans. I want a simplified, but responsible business environment.
*Intelligent but practical sound environmental policies
- Protection of our constitutional rights and aggressive fight against the unconstitutional laws we currently have
- I want to be the first line of defense for citizens in my district for any possible inappropriate government actions
- Simplification of business regulation requirements
- Protection of the health and safety of the citizens of the State of Nebraska
- Judicial and law enforcement reform to ensure that you are INDEED innocent until proven guilty
My mentor Brian Tracy. No explanation is needed for Brian.
To be answered later...
To be answered later...
To be answered later...
The Apollo 11 Lunar Landing in 1969... I watched live as Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon. I was in Elementary school.
My first job was selling Earl May garden seeds door to door, at the age of 7.
At 10 years old, my father woke me up at 5am and told me to take care of my chickens. I told him I did not have chickens. He informed me that as of that day, I was the owner of 250 chicks and I would learn how to run my own business.
Answers will be submitted later...
Answers will be submitted later...
Answers will be submitted later...
The benefit of a unicameral is efficiency in legislative action. The drawback is that rural areas lose voting power and large cities can completely dominate the political climate.
Previous experience in government or politics is not needed to become an effective state legislator. A couple of weeks of research can prepare most individuals for a public office and its duties.
To be answered later....
To be answered later...
To be answered later...
To be answered later...
To be answered later...
To be answered later...
To be answered later...
To be answered later...
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House Nebraska District 1 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 30, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on November 10, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 31, 2022
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 18, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Michael Connely’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed April 24, 2024
