Biography
Overview
Don Bacon is a Republican U.S. House representative from Nebraska's 2nd congressional district, serving since 2017. A retired Air Force brigadier general with 29 years of military service, he commanded wings at Ramstein Air Base in Germany and Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. Bacon represents an urban and suburban district that includes Omaha and has voted for Democratic presidential candidates in 2020 and 2024. He is known as a moderate Republican and member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.
Career
Bacon was the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democrat in 2016. He has been reelected four times, including in a district won by Democrats in 2020 and 2024. In the 117th Congress, he was ranked the most effective Republican lawmaker and fourth most effective overall by the Center for Effective Lawmaking. Key legislative achievements include being an original sponsor of the Naming Commission (renaming Confederate military assets), co-sponsoring the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, and introducing the Taiwan Representative Office Act. He was the lone Republican "nay" vote on the 2025 bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico. Bacon announced he will not seek re-election in 2026 to spend more time with his grandchildren.
Prior political experience
Bacon first won his seat in 2016, narrowly defeating Democrat Brad Ashford with 48.9% to 47.7%—the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democrat that year. He was reelected in 2018 with 51.0% against progressive Democrat Kara Eastman (49.0%). In 2020, Bacon again faced Eastman and won 51.0% to 46.2%, even as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden won the district by 6.5 points. In 2022, Bacon won the Republican primary with 77.14% against Steve Kuehl and defeated Democrat Tony Vargas 51.3% to 48.7% in the general election. In 2024, Bacon won the primary 61.96% against conservative populist Dan Frei (who was backed by the Nebraska Republican Party) and won the general election rematch against Vargas 50.93% to 49.07% in a district that supported Kamala Harris for president.
Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ideology
Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)
Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)
Campaigns targeting Don Bacon
No active campaigns target Don Bacon right now.
Start a campaign targeting Don BaconOfficeholding history
| Term | Seat | Term dates | Termination | Predecessor | Successor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | U.S. House NE-2 | 2025–present | In progress | Don Bacon | — |
| 4th | U.S. House NE-2 | 2023–2025 | Term ended | Don Bacon | Don Bacon |
| 3rd | U.S. House NE-2 | 2021–2023 | Term ended | Don Bacon | Don Bacon |
| 2nd | U.S. House NE-2 | 2019–2021 | Term ended | Don Bacon | Don Bacon |
| 1st | U.S. House NE-2 | 2017–2019 | Term ended | — | Don Bacon |
Committee assignments
- Cyber, Information Technologies, and InnovationHouseChairman· 2025–present
- Conservation, Research, and BiotechnologyHouse· 2025–present
- Livestock, Dairy, and PoultryHouse· 2025–present
- Strategic ForcesHouse· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
Current term legislation
Bills sponsored this term10
- H.R. 8472
To establish a pilot program for an expedited qualification and approval process for direct farm ownership loans, and for guaranteed farm ownership loans serviced by a Preferred Certified Lender, at the Department of Agriculture.
Apr 23, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7419
Foster Care Stabilization Act of 2026
Feb 9, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7090
To designate the portion of Interstate Route 680 in Omaha, Nebraska, as the "Hal Daub Freeway".
Jan 15, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6612
Defense Civilian Faculty Copyright Act of 2025
Dec 11, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6611
The F–47 Program Total Force Act of 2025
Dec 11, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6557
The Center for Strategic Deterrence and Weapons of Mass Destruction Studies Act of 2025
Dec 10, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6558
Defense Secure Mobile Phones Act of 2025
Dec 10, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6510
National Military Civilian Medical Surge Program Act of 2025
Dec 9, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 4582
To amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and title 5, United States Code, to clarify that organ donation surgery qualifies as a serious health condition.
Jul 22, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 4583
Living Donor Protection Act of 2025
Jul 22, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Bills cosponsored this term10
- H.R. 8433
To require the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense to jointly submit a report on efforts by the Government of the Russian Federation to persecute, suppress, discriminate, or otherwise violate the religious freedoms of Ukraine and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, to require the President to impose all applicable sanctions with respect to foreign persons certified to have engaged in such efforts, and for other purposes.
Apr 22, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8358
Breast Cancer Research Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2026
Apr 16, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8228
To nullify the Presidential Proclamation relating to Imposing a Temporary Import Surcharge to Address Fundamental International Payments Problems, and for other purposes.
Apr 9, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8219
BLOCK PUTIN Act
Apr 9, 2026INTRODUCED - H.R. 8205
Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026
Apr 6, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8104
Fertilizer Transparency Act of 2026
Mar 26, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8124
STOP Suicide Act
Mar 26, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8092
Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act of 2026
Mar 26, 2026INTRODUCED - H.R. 8120
Veterans Benefits Information Protection Act
Mar 26, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8041
Supporting VA Families Act
Mar 24, 2026INTRODUCED
Elections
| Year | Seat | Result | Vote share | Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | Pending | — | — |