A moderate Republican House member is preparing to retire ahead of the 2026 midterm elections—a move that could threaten the GOP’s narrow majority and potentially weaken President Donald Trump’s ability to advance his agenda during his final two years in office.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) announced Friday that he will not seek re-election, ending a five-term congressional career representing Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. His retirement turns the Omaha-area seat into a top-tier pickup opportunity for Democrats.
Bacon, who has held the district since 2017, is expected to formally announce his retirement next week. Sources familiar with the matter suggest the timing will coincide with the anticipated passage of the Trump-supported “Big Beautiful Bill,” aimed at overhauling federal infrastructure and immigration policies.
Nebraska’s 2nd District has long been one of the nation’s most competitive. Though Bacon has consistently eked out victories, the seat leans Democratic. The Cook Political Report currently rates the district as D+3. In the 2024 presidential race, Kamala Harris carried the district by four points, even as Bacon won re-election by fewer than 6,000 votes.
Bacon has built a reputation as one of the more centrist Republicans in the House. Though he voted with President Biden around 30 percent of the time, he opposed major Democratic initiatives like the “Build Back Better” package. Still, his moderate stance often drew criticism from within his own party.
He also supported creating a congressional committee to investigate the January 6 Capitol protests and backed legislation that would curb presidential powers related to tariffs. During the chaotic fight over House leadership following Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ouster in 2022, Bacon even floated the idea of supporting a Democrat for speaker, though he ultimately voted for current Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
With Bacon stepping aside, Democrats will likely pour resources into flipping NE-02, which could play a decisive role in the battle for House control in 2026. For Republicans, holding the seat will require identifying a candidate who can appeal to swing voters in a politically mixed district—without Bacon’s name recognition or centrist appeal.
