What’s next for Nebraska’s 2nd District? 4 Dems running as Bacon says ‘time to come home’

OMAHA, Neb. (KLKN) — Rep. Don Bacon made it official Monday.

After 10 years of serving Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, he will be stepping aside in the 2026 election.

“We’ve worked four days out of seven in Washington, D.C., 12-14 hours a day,” he said. “It’s time to come home.”

Bacon was first elected in 2016 and said he is very proud of his work.

“We’ve accomplished or got passed 38 bills in the last nine years,” he said. “Many people go through Congress for 10 or 16 years and get one bill passed. We got 38 bills signed into law. In the 118th Congress, we were the No. 1 of 435 Congresspeople in getting legislation passed.”

After his term, Bacon said he will still play a prominent role in the Omaha area.

“I’m not going to retire. I am going to be active in this community,” he said. “I love Omaha, I’ve lived in 16 places in the Air Force. This is our home. Best place to live in in America.”

Bacon’s retirement could open a path for Democrats to retake the seat, which has been hotly contested in recent years.

He has never won by more than 5 percentage points, and last year, he prevailed by less than 2.

Four Democrats have already announced they are throwing their hats in the ring: State Sen. John Cavanaugh, Mark Johnston, Denise Powell and Evangelos Argyrakis.

No Republican has yet announced their candidacy.

Bacon said he hopes the next Republican candidate will follow his lead.

“I think voters want people to be authentic, honest about what you’re going to do, and then you do it,” he said.

Bacon referenced his bipartisan work with his former opponent, the late Rep. Brad Ashford.

“Let’s get the new VA done,” he said. “They’re going to have to close the deal.”