WASHINGTON — Rep. Don Bacon, a centrist Republican who represents a key battleground district in Nebraska, is planning to announce his retirement from Congress, in accordance with two sources aware of the state of affairs.
He’s anticipated to make a proper announcement as quickly as subsequent week, when the Home is poised to vote on President Donald Trump’s sweeping laws dubbed the “Huge Lovely Invoice.”
Bacon didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark Friday night time.
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NOTUS and Punchbowl Information first reported his retirement plans.
Bacon has represented the state’s 2nd Congressional District, which incorporates a lot of the Omaha metropolitan space, since 2017 when he defeated his Democratic opponent by lower than 5,000 votes. Since then, Bacon has saved the seat within the GOP column however solely narrowly emerged victorious in current elections, together with final 12 months, when he gained by lower than 2 proportion factors.
Bacon’s departure will present Democrats a possibility to select up a seat in a district that has proven an urge for food for supporting Democratic candidates on the poll in current elections.
Then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried the district by almost 5 proportion factors in 2024 — making Bacon certainly one of simply three Home Republicans to serve in a district Harris gained. Joe Biden gained Bacon’s district by an excellent bigger margin in 2020.
Bacon has been among the many few vocal Republican critics of Trump’s agenda, sparring with the president at occasions over his use of tariffs and choice to rename the Gulf of Mexico, and accusing him of treating Russia with “velvet gloves.”
Together with his announcement, Bacon will be part of almost half a dozen Republicans within the Home who’ve opted in opposition to looking for re-election subsequent 12 months. 9 Home Democrats additionally are usually not looking for re-election to their seats.
