Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska will not seek re-election next year, according to four sources familiar with the situation, dealing a blow to House Republicans who had viewed the five-term incumbent as the party’s best hope for retaining his battleground congressional district.
Bacon’s formal announcement that he is retiring from Congress is expected next week and could come as early as Monday, the sources said.
Bacon, a former brigadier general in the Air Force, has represented Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District since 2017, a suburban Omaha seat that has trended left in recent years. He is one of just three House Republicans to represent a district won by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris last year.
Bacon did not respond to a request for comment.
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Bacon’s decision won’t shock politicos in either party: He said earlier this year that he was considering stepping aside from Congress. He has also been publicly critical of President Donald Trump and the direction of the GOP, telling The New York Times earlier this month he does not plan to follow his party “off a cliff.”
“Don has clearly made it his mission to sink his credibility within the party, and I don’t know what his future plans are except trying to get attention from CNN or New York Times,” one Republican strategist said. “I think this is going to be, for Republicans, more difficult seat to hold without Don, but there’s still hope. I think obviously the Dems will have a field day with it.”
The seat is now an immediate pick up opportunity for Democrats, who have continually failed to oust Bacon despite the center-left lean of the district. Bacon edged out State Sen. Tony Vargas in 2024 by nearly 2 points. The Democratic primary will likely be crowded.
Republicans will also now have to field another candidate who has a shot at winning the so-called “blue dot” district. According to a source with knowledge of the recruitment efforts, there are three candidates Republicans are talking to about a potential run: Aimee Melton, who currently serves on the Omaha City Council, former Nebraska state Sen. Brett Lindstrom and Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson.
The seat will be an uphill battle for any Republican candidate with Trump in the White House — Harris won the district by 4.5 percentage points. Former President Joe Biden also won the district in 2020.
“Don Bacon’s decision to not seek reelection in 2026 is the latest vote of no-confidence for House Republicans and their electoral prospects,” said Madison Andrus, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Next November, Nebraskans are going to elect a Democrat who will actually deliver for them.”
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Reese Gorman and Alex Roarty are reporters at NOTUS.
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