Democrats target Nebraska House seat
Republican incumbent has sparked Trump’s ire
With overflowing war chests and national attention, Nebraska's second congressional district is home to one of the most anticipated rematches in the House of Representatives.
With the Republicans holding onto the House with a slim majority, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee identified the seat as one that could be flipped. More broadly, the district has been viewed as a bellwether for presidential success: President Barack Obama won there in 2008, President Donald Trump won in 2016 and President Joe Biden won in 2020.
The candidates: Democratic state Sen. Tony Vargas, a rising Latino star in the Democratic Party, against four-time Republican incumbent Don Bacon, who has sparked Trump's ire.
Vargas, 39, lost to Bacon, 60, by fewer than 6,000 votes in 2022.
Vargas is in his last year as a state senator due to term limits.
He believes his campaign is in a better position this time around and will benefit from greater voter turnout during a presidential election year and national interest. He would be the first Latino elected to the seat.
“This will no doubt be one of the closest races in the country again, but with the support we're seeing, we know we can win,” Vargas said in an
email.
“I just have to work hard; it's going to be competitive no matter what,” Bacon said in an interview with USA TODAY.
According to the latest Federal Election Commission filings, Bacon raised more than $780,000 at the end of 2023, giving him a nest egg of $1.5 million. Vargas brought in more than $500,000 in the fourth quarter of last year, resulting in $1.1 million.
Vargas raised most of his money from small donations inside the Cornhusker State, while Bacon scored larger donations from political action committees.
Bacon was one of the five Republican incumbents in the state who did not receive backing from the populist-leaning Nebraska GOP.
The endorsement went to Republican opponent and businessman Dan Frei, who said he would join the House Freedom Caucus if elected. Nonetheless, Bacon is expected to beat Frei in the May 14 primary and then go on to face Vargas.
In one of the country's most purple congressional districts, Bacon and Vargas tout their bipartisan efforts as they face the challenge of winning over moderate and independent voters.
Bacon, who cites his ability to work across the aisle as one of his biggest strengths, was named one of Congress' most influential lawmakers by the Center for Effective Lawmaking in 2023. He voted to certify the 2020 election results. His most recent bipartisan efforts include attempting to push a $65 billion funding bill for foreign aid through the House.
Bacon says Vargas doesn't disagree with Democratic Party leaders enough.
“Voters know that even if they don't agree with me, they know I'm trying to do the right thing,” he said. “I'm not a party-line guy, and he (Vargas) is.”
Vargas, who has garnered endorsements from groups including Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Latino Victory, has supported bipartisan legislation at the Nebraska Capitol, including the largest tax cut package in the state's history last year.
“I've been working to lower costs and provide opportunities to Nebraska families,” Vargas said in an email. “I hear from Nebraskans every single day that they've had enough of self-interested, phony politicians like Don Bacon who get nothing done.”