Rep. Don Bacon announced Monday he will not seek reelection next year in his key battleground district, leaving a House Republican seat vulnerable.
“After 30 years in the Air Force and 10 years in Congress, it’s time to spend my future with the love of my life, our four kids, and our wonderful grandchildren. Thank you, Nebraska!” Bacon said on X.
Bacon narrowly won reelection in 2024 in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District by less than two percentage points. Meanwhile, Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris won the district by nearly five points.
Democrats immediately pounced.
“The writing has been on the wall for months. Nebraskans are tired of the false promises that Republicans are trying to sell and they want real results,” said Madison Andrus, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Don Bacon’s decision to not seek reelection in 2026 is the latest vote of no-confidence for House Republicans and their electoral prospects. Next November, Nebraskans are going to elect a Democrat who will actually deliver for them.”
Bacon’s moderate image has helped him hold on even as his district shifted to the left.
“In this district, you got to win swing voters. It’s just a fact of life,” he said.
Still, he told the Associated Press he thinks Republicans can win the seat, pointing out that the Democrats currently running appeal only to the far left. His announcement came just one day after another Republican, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, also said he won’t run again. Bacon told reporters that after decades of service, he’s learned how to choose his battles, the Nebraska Examiner reported.
“If you’ve never fallen on your sword, there’s something wrong with you,” Bacon said. “If you fall on your sword every day, there’s something wrong with you.”
Several Nebraska Republicans praised him for his service. U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer said Bacon had “faithfully served our country and the people of Nebraska.”
“I have enjoyed working alongside Don on many issues facing our nation, and I will miss partnering with him on solutions that strengthen our Nebraska communities,” said Fischer, who often calls Bacon by his Air Force call sign, “Bits.”
But Bacon has often drawn criticism from conservatives who say he talks one way and votes another. He insists he’s been independent and pragmatic.
The House Majority PAC, aligned with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, released a statement saying Bacon was walking away because he couldn’t win.
“After voting to gut health care and jack up costs for working families, Don Bacon is headed for the hills because he knows he can’t win,” the group said.
Bacon disagrees. He says he could have won again but wants to pass the torch.
He believes the district needs “a new Republican” who has the energy for the long days and year-round demands of serving in a swing district.
Bacon calls himself a “Reagan Republican” — someone who resists isolationism and believes America’s military strength requires consistent investment.
He’s had clashes with the right. Some Nebraska Republicans protested outside his office when he refused to back Jim Jordan for speaker after McCarthy was ousted.
The Nebraska GOP turned on him after Trump allies took control of the state party in 2022. Bacon pushed back with a reminder: in both 2020 and 2024, he got more votes than Donald Trump in the district.
“I want to be a voice for traditional Republican views,” Bacon said Monday.
He criticized parts of the Senate bill dealing with Medicaid cuts, but praised Trump’s tax cuts and other parts of the legislation.
“Are we better off keeping the tax cuts permanent, keeping the inheritance tax off, keeping the investment tax credits on, and the things that we’re going to do for our military in this bill?” Bacon asked. “There’s a lot of great stuff in this legislation too.”
