Bacon holds onto Nebraska House seat for Republicans

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) will win another term representing Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, holding on in the district seen as central to both parties’ majority hopes, Decision Desk HQ projects. 

Bacon defeated state Sen. Tony Vargas (D) despite facing what seemed to be one of his most competitive challenges yet. The incumbent has won his race each time with a narrow majority of the vote since he was first elected in 2016. 

The district receives particular attention because of Nebraska’s unique electoral system in the presidential race. It is one of two states, along with Maine, that distributes its electoral votes by the results of each of its congressional districts. 

The 1st and 3rd districts lean Republican, but the 2nd District is a toss-up that voted for President Biden in 2020. Bacon was able to outperform then-President Trump by a few points to clinch victory, and has been trying to outrun Trump this time around.

He was able to hold on to fend off Vargas, who only narrowly lost to Bacon for the seat two years ago.