Bacon, Don

Don Bacon represents Nebraska's 2nd congressional district, which includes Omaha and Offutt Air Force Base. First elected in 2016, he served 29 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a brigadier general before entering politics. Representing a competitive swing district, he has established a reputation as a centrist Reagan Republican and is a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. In June 2025, he announced he would not seek re-election in 2026, citing party divisions and a desire to spend time with family.

Bacon holds influential roles on the House Committee on Armed Services, where he chairs the Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation. He also serves on the Committee on Agriculture. His policy work frequently centers on defense, cybersecurity, and foster care reform. He has been recognized by the Center for Effective Lawmaking as one of the most effective Republican legislators in the House.

Throughout his tenure, Bacon has been a vocal critic of isolationist foreign policy and has frequently sparred with the far-right elements of his party. He supported the Emmett Till Antilynching Act and the Respect for Marriage Act, and he was one of the few Republicans to support the commission investigating the January 6th attack. During the second Trump administration, he emerged as a prominent critic of various executive actions, including certain tariff proposals and cuts to social programs like Medicaid.