Don Bacon’s surprise retirement upends Nebraska’s 2nd District race, leaving Democrats scrambling and reshaping the 2026 political battlefield.
Democrats thought they had everything figured out for 2026.
They’d already lined up four candidates to take on Republican Don Bacon.
But Don Bacon sent Democrats scrambling with the one announcement they never saw coming.
Bacon catches everyone off-guard with retirement bombshell
Republican Congressman Don Bacon dropped the bombshell that he’s calling it quits after five terms representing Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.¹ The retired Air Force brigadier general chose Omaha’s Eppley Airfield for his announcement, explaining that family time and party infighting drove his decision.
"There’s a time for everything, it’s a time for every season," Bacon said, referencing Ecclesiastes. "Ten years ago in 3 months, I made the decision to run for Congress."² The 61-year-old congressman said divisions within his own political party contributed to his decision.³
"It’s one thing to fight the other party, but when you have fights in your own party, the enjoyment factor is not the same," Bacon explained.⁴
This bombshell announcement completely reshapes the political landscape in one of the most competitive congressional districts in the country.
https://x.com/DonJBacon/status/1939700471305851009“>https://x.com/DonJBacon/status/1939700471305851009
Democrats were already circling like vultures
Even before Bacon’s announcement, Democrats had been salivating over the possibility of flipping Nebraska’s 2nd District. The district went for Vice President Kamala Harris by 4.6 percentage points in 2024, putting Bacon in the rare position of being one of only three House Republicans representing territory that Harris captured.⁵
Four Democrats had already jumped into the race, sensing blood in the water.
State Senator John Cavanaugh jumped in during June, betting that his track record of legislative leadership would give him an edge.⁶ The Cavanaugh name carries serious political weight – his father John J. Cavanaugh III represented this same district from 1977 to 1981, while his sister Machaela Cavanaugh serves with him in the state legislature.
Political operative Denise Powell entered the race earlier this year, claiming that Omaha-area residents have been abandoned in Washington and deserve someone who understands working-class struggles.⁷ Powell left her position with Women Who Run, an organization that trains female political candidates.
Ophthalmologist Mark Johnston and perennial candidate Evangelos Argyrakis round out the current Democratic field.⁸
But here’s the twist nobody saw coming.
Bacon wasn’t supposed to be this vulnerable
Bacon had weathered Democratic challenges since 2016 but kept beating back serious opposition despite the district’s leftward drift.⁹ He knocked off Democratic state senator Tony Vargas in back-to-back elections – 2022 and 2024 – showing he could still win in increasingly hostile territory.
The retired general built his reputation as a moderate Republican willing to buck his party on occasion. In 2023, Bacon’s refusal to back Ohio Representative Jim Jordan for speaker brought on threatening phone calls to his wife from angry conservatives.¹⁰
Bacon has been among the few vocal Republican critics of Trump’s agenda, sparring with the president over his use of tariffs and decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico, and accusing him of treating Russia with "velvet gloves".¹¹
That independent streak made him a target from both sides. Primary challengers attacked him as a RINO (Republican in Name Only), while Democrats tried to paint him as too conservative for the district.
But now Bacon’s gone, and Democrats think they’ve got a golden opportunity.
Republicans aren’t going down without a fight
Three Omaha-area Republicans have signaled interest in replacing Bacon: ex-state legislator Brett Lindstrom, City Councilman Brinker Harding, and businessman Chris Chappelear.¹²
Lindstrom served in the Legislature from 2015 to 2022 and ran for governor that year, finishing third in the Republican primary. He was best known for pushing bills that reduced state income taxes, including taxes on Social Security checks.¹³
The Washington Post reported party operatives were eyeing Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, but he said Monday he’s not interested in running.¹⁴
Here’s what Democrats don’t want to admit – they’ve been losing this seat for a reason.
Democrat brand is toxic in Nebraska
"They keep running extraordinarily left-wing candidates in Omaha," Bacon told the Nebraska Examiner. "If you want to win in Nebraska [2nd District], you’ve got to run a more centrist candidate".¹⁵
Bacon wasn’t wrong. Bacon criticized Cavanaugh’s voting record, saying that outside political groups would easily use it against him. "I personally like John, but his left-wing voting record will sink him in his run for Congress. His voting record is indistinguishable from State Senator Megan Hunt and his sister".¹⁶
Translation: Cavanaugh votes with the most liberal members of the Nebraska Legislature.
Cavanaugh is part of a local political dynasty. His sister, State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh, serves with him in the Legislature.¹⁷ That’s the same Machaela Cavanaugh who became a national figure for her filibuster tactics against conservative legislation.
Powell might position herself as an outsider, but she’s already pledged to "push back against the Trump administration" and prioritize protecting Medicaid and Social Security.¹⁸
That’s music to liberal ears, but Nebraska voters just gave Trump a second term.
National Democrats smell blood
"With momentum on our side, House Majority PAC is ready to flip NE-02 blue and take back the House in 2026," a Democratic super PAC announced.¹⁹
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Madison Andrus released a statement saying, "Don Bacon’s decision to not seek reelection in 2026 is the latest vote of no-confidence for House Republicans and their electoral prospects".²⁰
But Democrats are getting ahead of themselves.
"Don Bacon has served our country with honor after nearly 30 years in uniform and nearly a decade in Congress," said Zach Bannon, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. "As we look ahead, Republicans are confident in keeping Nebraska’s 2nd District red as we maintain and expand our majority in the House".²¹
Republicans have good reason to be confident. This is still Nebraska, where Trump crushed Harris statewide. The 2nd District might be purple, but it’s not San Francisco.
During his farewell speech, Bacon bragged about bringing home "$1.4 billion for Offutt to rebuild after the flood," "$160 million for a new runway at Offutt" Air Force Base, and "$78 million right here at Eppley" Airfield.²²
That’s the kind of federal investment Nebraska voters remember come election time.
Democrats celebrated when Bacon announced his retirement, thinking they’d caught a lucky break. But they might have just lost their best chance to win this seat – because now they’ll face a Republican who isn’t carrying Bacon’s baggage with the Trump base.
That could be the political miscalculation that costs them everything in 2026.
¹ Roll Call, June 30, 2025 ² KETV, June 30, 2025 ³ KETV, June 30, 2025 ⁴ Nebraska Examiner, May 3, 2025 ⁵ NBC News, June 27, 2025 ⁶ Nebraska Examiner, June 4, 2025 ⁷ Nebraska Examiner, May 1, 2025 ⁸ KETV, June 4, 2025; Ballotpedia, 2025 ⁹ Roll Call, June 30, 2025 ¹⁰ Roll Call, June 30, 2025 ¹¹ NBC News, June 27, 2025 ¹² Omaha World-Herald, June 30, 2025 ¹³ Omaha World-Herald, June 30, 2025 ¹⁴ Omaha World-Herald, June 30, 2025 ¹⁵ Nebraska Examiner, May 3, 2025 ¹⁶ Nebraska Examiner, June 4, 2025 ¹⁷ Nebraska Examiner, June 25, 2025 ¹⁸ Nebraska Examiner, May 1, 2025 ¹⁹ Roll Call, June 30, 2025 ²⁰ KETV, June 27, 2025 ²¹ Roll Call, June 30, 2025 ²² KETV, June 30, 2025
