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State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha confirmed he's exploring a run for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, saying Nebraskans need a stronger representative to stand up for the state and to President Donald Trump. Rep.
Don Bacon speaks with others at the ground breaking ceremony at OneWorld in Omaha, on March 21. Bacon confirmed that he will make a decision about running for another term in Congress over the summer. Meanwhile, U.
S. Rep. Don Bacon said he's mulling whether to run again for that seat in 2026.
"I’ll never really retire until God takes me home. I want to always be productive and making a difference," Bacon, a Republican, said in a written statement. "But regarding running for a sixth term, that is a family decision.
I’ve served four decades in public life then, including the military. We’ll make that decision this summer." Bacon was first elected to Congress in 2016 after a career in the U.
S. Air Force. He won reelection in 2024 by a narrow margin over Democrat Tony Vargas.
Reports that Bacon may not seek reelection first appeared in national outlet NOTUS . People are also reading..
. Cavanaugh, a Democrat in the formally nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature, won a second term last year. His father, also named John Cavanaugh, served two terms in Congress, representing the 2nd Congressional District.
John Cavanaugh The younger Cavanaugh has thought about running for Congress since the November election and started discussing the prospect in recent weeks, as first reported in the Nebraska Examiner . Cavanaugh said in an interview that those calls and conversations with constituents brought up a bevy of concerns with the erosion of democracy and the rule of law. He said Nebraskans want a representative to defend Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and research dollars for the University of Nebraska.
Bacon is considered a moderate Republican and has drawn attention for his willingness to criticize or question the Trump administration. He told The World-Herald he was "angered" by the president’s remarks on the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting Ukraine provoked the invasion. "Let’s have moral clarity here: Russia invaded Ukraine," he said.
"They’re bombing the cities, they’re killing POWs." Don Bacon Cavanaugh said there's a difference between speaking up on cable news and taking action through votes, citing congressional budget negotiations and potential cuts to Medicaid. Bacon gave an early-round vote in February for a budget that included Medicaid cuts but said he was "assured that the final bill will not affect the quality of health care covered by Medicaid.
They all said the final numbers will be more moderate." Republicans, however, remain embattled over the level of cuts to the health care program as they work to pass a budget that includes trillions in tax cuts and new spending on military and immigration enforcement. Bacon is among some lawmakers who say they will not support cuts to "Medicaid for those who need it or to the hospitals that we need to preserve.
" Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha said he's exploring a run for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. Cavanaugh said: "The hard thing is actually to vote the right way, against his own party, to do the right thing.
" He touted his record in the Legislature, passing bills to repeal taxes on diapers, enhance protections for domestic violence victims and increase access to mental health care. Cavanaugh said he'll finalize a decision about a congressional run after the legislative session concludes in June. "If I run, I can win," Cavanaugh said, referring both to a possible party primary and an election against Bacon or any other candidate in the general election.
The Omaha-centered 2nd Congressional District, colloquially called the "Blue Dot," has supported Democrats and given them an Electoral College vote in presidential races, with Joe Biden winning the district in 2020 and Kamala Harris winning it last year. In 2024, the state Republican party backed challenger Dan Frei to win the party nomination, but Bacon beat him soundly. Bacon won the general election with 50.
9% of votes to Vargas' 49.1%. Rep.
Don Bacon talks about his stance on cuts to Medicaid Photos: Get your first glimpse at the 2025 Nebraska football team, April 26, 2025 Nebraska's Dane Key (left) greets former player Will Compton during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Midland's Alyssa Butler (left) pressures UNL All Stars' Abby Camps during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Midland's Angel Ioane Kaio throws the ball against UNL All Stars during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Midland's NaTaija Blaylock (right) goes after Nebraska's Dylan Raiola during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska special teams assistant Brett Maher kicks a field goal during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Izaac Dickey (left) gets the ball from Luke Longval during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's TJ Lateef runs with the ball during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Young fans Camden Eriksen (from left), 4, Andre Jackson, 6, and Denzel Jackson, 8, all of Dakota Dunes, S.D.
, cheer during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Hayes Miller (left) holds onto the ball as he is tackled by teammate Derek Wacker during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's TJ Lateef (left) is tackled by teammate Derek Wacker during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Luke Longval runs with the ball during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's DJ Singleton (right) celebrates his touchdown during the Husker Games on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Dylan Raiola holds a football during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Dylan Raiola makes a throw during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Dane Key picks up the ball during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen looks on during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Marcos Davila (left) fakes a handoff to Conor Booth during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska players celebrate after DJ Singleton scored a touchdown during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Elijah Jeudy (from left), Heinrich Haarberg and Malcolm Hartzog compete in a running competition during the Husker Games on Saturday, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule reacts after a play results in no gain in yards during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Jacory Barney (right) signs autographs for fans before the Husker Games event on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's defensive linemen dig into wings, of which they ate 99, during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraka's Dennis Leblanc smiles during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April.
26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Gunnar Gottula (from left), Justin Evans, and Rocco Spindler share a laugh before the wing eating contest during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska AD Troy Dannen speaks with Recruiting and personnel analyst Frank Verducci during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Jacory Barney reacts as he wins during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April.
26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Ashton Murphy is interviewed by media during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Husker fans compete for attention from Nebraska quaterback Dylan Riola (bottom) after the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Red Team's Marcos Davila (16) throws a pass during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April.
26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Conor Connealy (center) celebrates his teams win in the wing eating contest during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Red Team's Marcos Davila (16) runs the ball as he looks to pass under pressure form the White team during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska director of Football relations Ed Foley is seen on the field during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April.
26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communications Keith Mann walks the sidelines during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska football chief of staff Dr. Sudan Elza helps to set up the tractor pull during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska Defensive linemen David Borchers, Sua Lefotu , and Conor Connealy participate in a wing eating contest during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Gunnar Gottula (from left), Justin Evans, and Rocco Spindler dig in to a tub of wings in a wing eating contest during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April.
26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. The Red Team reacts as a 50 yard is made by Tristan Alvano (30) during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska Defensive linemen David Borchers digs into wings during a wing eating contest to cap the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Teddy Prochazka (from left) Gunnar Gottula, Justin Evans, and Rocco Spindler dig in to a tub of wings in a wing eating contest during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April.
26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Conor Connealy reacts toward his teammates after taking a whiff of smelling salts before a wing eatting contest during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Conor Connealy reacts toward his teammates after taking a whiff of smelling salts before a wing eatting contest during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Dylan Raiola celebrates with Jacory Barney after Barney wins a race among teammates during the Husker Games on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska Strength and Conditioning coach Corey Campbell (left) and player cheer on Special Teams coordinator Mike Ekeler as he benches during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Former Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook ropes a mechanical calf while riding a mechanical horse during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April.
26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Former Nebraska head coach John Cook (left) and and player Heinrich Haarberg warm up before the roping contest during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska Strength and Conditioning coach Corey Campbell (left) and player cheer on Special Teams coordinator Mike Ekeler as he benches during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April.
26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Former Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook ropes a mechanical calf while riding a mechanical horse during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Elijah Jeudy tries to rope a mechanical calf while riding a mechanical horse during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg ropes a mechanical calf during the Husker Games event on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Husker players and staff react after Nebraska quarterback Dylan Riola (center) celebrates after scoring a football into a basketball net in the endzone during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Husker players and staff react after Nebraska quarterback Dylan Riola (left) scores a football into a basketball net in the endzone during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April.
26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Red Team's Jaidyn Doss (12) is tackled by White Team's Caden VerMaas (48) during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Red Team's TJ Lateef (14) tries to recover a fumble against White Team's Michael Booker (43) during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Ashton Murphy helps his teammate pull a tractor as Sylan Riola cheer them on during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April.
26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Players from the Nebraska football team are led out of the tunnel by Strength and Conditioning coach Corey Campbell (center) during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska head football coach Matt Rhule cheers as Will Compton (not pictured) bench presses during the Husker Games on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Dylan Raiola looks at a play calling sheet during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Jaidyn Doss runs to a touchdown during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's TJ Lateef (right) is pressured by Landen Davidson during the Husker Games on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. While sitting in chairs for sale, Cora, 8 and Delilah Hardy, 11 watch videos on their phone while their grandmother Cindy LaPole holds their brother, Theo, 2, as he sleeps during the Husker equipment sale at the Hawks Championship Center on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Lincoln. The equipment sale is a bit of a "garage sale," where fans can buy clearance and discounted team merchandise from Nebraska Athletics.
Items for sale include jerseys, helmets, apparel, memorabilia, collectibles, promotional items and more. JoJo Runde (from left) and Jamie Crane of La Vista try on shoes during the Husker equipment sale at the Hawks Championship Center on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Lincoln. The equipment sale is a bit of a "garage sale," where fans can buy clearance and discounted team merchandise from Nebraska Athletics.
Items for sale include jerseys, helmets, apparel, memorabilia, collectibles, promotional items and more. Fans peruse items for sale during the Husker equipment sale at the Hawks Championship Center on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Lincoln. The equipment sale is a bit of a "garage sale," where fans can buy clearance and discounted team merchandise from Nebraska Athletics.
Items for sale include jerseys, helmets, apparel, memorabilia, collectibles, promotional items and more. Brian Bierschenk uses an Aquafina water cooler to transport his haul of Husker memorabilia as he checks out during the Husker equipment sale at the Hawks Championship Center on Saturday in Lincoln. The equipment sale is a bit of a "garage sale," where fans can buy clearance and discounted team merchandise from Nebraska Athletics.
Items for sale include jerseys, helmets, apparel, memorabilia, collectibles, promotional items and more. Fans wait in line for checkout during the Husker equipment sale at the Hawks Championship Center on Saturday in Lincoln. The equipment sale is a bit of a "garage sale," where fans can buy clearance and discounted team merchandise from Nebraska Athletics.
Items for sale include jerseys, helmets, apparel, memorabilia, collectibles, promotional items and more. Tyson Carlson (center) pays for some Kona Ice at their food truck during the Food Truck rally outside Memorial Stadium on Saturday in Lincoln. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
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