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.