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3w ago

Don Bacon Will Not Seek 2026 Reelection, Opening Nebraska’s 2nd District

His exit removes a centrist voice from a battleground seat, setting the stage for aggressive recruiting from both parties.

Representative Don Bacon (R-NE) can be seen arriving for a House Republican conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on May 6, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., winks during a House Committee on Armed Services Chair hearing on the Department of the Army's Fiscal Year 2026 posture, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., outside the U.S. Capitol on June 22, 2023.

Overview

  • Bacon plans to formally announce his retirement next week after five terms representing the Omaha-based district.
  • His departure turns a narrowly held swing seat—carried by Biden in 2020 and Harris in 2024—into an open contest for the 2026 midterms.
  • With Republicans holding only a three-vote majority in the House, Democrats view the vacancy as a prime opportunity to reclaim a seat.
  • Bacon’s record of challenging President Trump on Ukraine policy and tariffs marked him as one of the few moderate GOP voices in Congress.
  • National party committees and potential candidates are already mobilizing campaigns for what is expected to be a high-profile race.