EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Kamala Harris advisor with questionable foreign policy record announces Congressional bid

Democrat Chris Backemeyer is leaning on his foreign policy ties to national Democrats, a move that could prove risky in a district that hasn't elected a Democrat in over half a century.

Nebraska Democrat Chris Backemeyer threw his hat in the ring for Congress this month — but as a former national security advisor to Kamala Harris, Backemeyer’s record on foreign policy is already proving problematic.

During Backemeyer’s time as a foreign policy advisor to Harris, the Biden-Harris administration presided over the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan Harris famously bragged about her status as the “last person” in the decision room as Biden made his decision to withdraw troops.

Backemeyer also worked on issues related to the Iran deal, which provided billions to Iran while Iran continued to proliferate nuclear weapons. During his time in D.C., he worked on the State Department’s negotiating team for the Iran deal, and was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State when the Biden administration arranged for the $6 billion ransom payment to Tehran.

The Times of Israel reported extensively on Backemeyer’s work trying to convince skeptical companies to invest directly in Tehran. Part of his work, the Times covered in 2016, involved “promoting the Iran deal to firms that want to tap into its massive market but fear other sanctions, or that the next American president could scrap the deal.”

“It’s not an easy task for Chris Backemeyer or other Americans on the equivalent of a nuclear deal roadshow, especially as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard continues to fire off ballistic missiles and US Republican presidential candidates vow to tear up the pact if elected,” the Times added.

Backemeyer is running against Rep. Mike Flood (R., Neb.) in Nebraska’s 1st District, which hasn’t elected a Democrat in over half a century.