Republican Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska has announced he will not seek reelection in 2026. Bacon, known for his outspoken criticism of former President Donald Trump on several key issues, made the decision public recently, according to sources familiar with his plans. This news is significant, particularly for Democrats hoping to regain control of the House of Representatives in the upcoming midterm elections.
Bacon’s district, encompassing Omaha, is considered a competitive swing district. While he’s held the seat since 2016, the area has shown a shift towards Democratic candidates in recent elections. Kamala Harris carried the district in the 2024 presidential election, and Joe Biden won it in 2020. This trend continued with the recent election of John Ewing Jr., Omaha’s first Black mayor, a Democrat who defeated the incumbent Republican.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) swiftly responded to Bacon’s announcement, declaring it a further sign of weakness for the Republican party and expressing confidence in their ability to win the seat. They’ve pledged a strong effort to capture the district in the next election cycle.
Bacon’s willingness to openly disagree with Trump, even during the former president’s second term, is noteworthy. He notably called for the dismissal of then-Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a journalist was inadvertently included in a Signal chat discussing sensitive military plans. Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, argued that such a lapse in security would have resulted in immediate dismissal for any officer under his command.
His defiance of the Trump administration extended beyond this incident. He penned an opinion piece in The Washington Post opposing cuts to AmeriCorps funding and criticized Elon Musk’s proposed U.S. DOGE Service. He also introduced a bill aiming to give Congress more control over tariffs, rather than leaving the power solely with the president. Furthermore, he was the only House Republican to vote against a bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico, citing its frivolous nature. Even during Biden’s presidency, he voted against Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House, a decision he later stated led to threats against him and his family.
In a recent interview, Bacon described himself as an ‘old-fashioned Republican’ in the mold of Ronald Reagan, emphasizing his commitment to traditional conservative values over partisan loyalty. His departure from the political stage leaves a significant opening in a key battleground district, setting the stage for a potentially hard-fought contest in the next election.
