In a move sending ripples through Nebraska’s political landscape, five-term Republican Congressman Don Bacon announced yesterday he will not seek reelection in 2024. The surprise decision leaves Nebraska’s competitive 2nd Congressional District wide open, potentially altering the calculus for House control in an already tense election cycle.
Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general first elected in 2016, cited family considerations as his primary motivation. “After much prayer and discussion with my wife Angie, I’ve decided it’s time to pass the torch,” Bacon told reporters gathered at his Omaha district office. “Serving Nebraska has been the honor of a lifetime, but my four grandchildren are growing up fast, and I don’t want to miss these precious years.”
The timing of Bacon’s announcement, coming just five months before the election, has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. His district, encompassing Omaha and its suburbs, represents one of the nation’s genuine swing territories – one of just nine districts nationwide that voted for Biden in 2020 while electing a Republican representative.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Carlos Martinez wasted no time framing the departure as evidence of Republican vulnerability. “Congressman Bacon sees the writing on the wall. Moderate Republicans are being pushed out by MAGA extremism, leaving voters without sensible representation,” Martinez said in a statement released hours after Bacon’s announcement.
Nebraska’s 2nd District has increasingly become a battleground, with Bacon winning his last reelection by just 2.7 percentage points. Political analysts from the Cook Political Report immediately shifted their rating of the race from “Lean Republican” to “Toss Up” following yesterday’s news.
Dr. Elizabeth Warren, political science professor at University of Nebraska Omaha, sees broader implications. “Bacon represented a dying breed of compromise-oriented Republicans willing to occasionally break with party leadership,” she explained during our phone interview. “His departure reflects the increasing polarization making it difficult for centrists to survive in today’s political environment.”
The congressman’s moderate voting record occasionally put him at odds with hardline conservatives. He voted to certify the 2020 election results, supported the bipartisan infrastructure bill, and backed legislation protecting same-sex marriage. These positions earned him the ire of former President Trump, who once labeled him “Don Bacon: Bad for Nebraska.”
Nebraska GOP Chair Todd Watson offered a different perspective on Bacon’s departure. “Don served his country honorably in uniform and in Congress. We’re grateful for his service and confident Nebraska voters will elect another strong conservative voice to represent their values in Washington,” Watson said at a hastily arranged press conference.
The political implications extend beyond Nebraska’s borders. Republicans currently hold a razor-thin House majority with just four seats. According to data from the Brookings Institution, the loss of an incumbent advantage in competitive districts like NE-02 could prove decisive in determining House control next year.
Local business leaders expressed concern about losing Bacon’s advocacy. “Congressman Bacon consistently championed policies supporting Nebraska’s agricultural economy and military installations like Offutt Air Force Base,” said Jennifer Creighton, Omaha Chamber of Commerce president. “His successor will have big shoes to fill in protecting these economic engines.”
Already, potential candidates from both parties are positioning themselves for the open seat. State Senator Tony Vargas, who narrowly lost to Bacon in 2022, confirmed he’s “seriously considering another run.” On the Republican side, names being floated include State Senators Lou Ann Linehan and Mike McDonnell, along with Douglas County Commissioner Mary Ann Borgeson.
Campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show Bacon had already raised $1.8 million for his reelection bid. According to FEC regulations, these funds can be returned to donors, transferred to party committees, or donated to charity.
The congressman’s legacy will likely be defined by his military background influencing his approach to governance. “I tried bringing the same discipline and integrity I learned in the Air Force to Congress,” Bacon reflected during his announcement. “Sometimes that meant standing up to my own party when principles demanded it.”
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson released a statement thanking Bacon for his service while expressing confidence in retaining the seat. “Nebraska’s 2nd District voters value commonsense conservative leadership. We’ll work tirelessly to ensure they continue having exactly that representation in Washington.”
As the political machinery on both sides gears up for what promises to be an expensive and hard-fought campaign, voters in Omaha expressed mixed reactions. “I didn’t always agree with Bacon, but he seemed willing to listen to all sides,” said Sarah Johnson, 47, a registered independent from Millard. “I worry his replacement might be more extreme in either direction.”
Bacon’s retirement continues a trend of congressional departures ahead of the 2024 election, with over 30 House members from both parties already announcing they won’t seek reelection. The question now becomes whether Nebraska voters will maintain their recent pattern of split-ticket voting or align their congressional choice with their presidential preference.
Whatever the outcome, Bacon’s departure marks the end of an era in Nebraska politics and adds another layer of uncertainty to the already volatile battle for House control.
