Incumbent Don Bacon (R) and Tony Vargas (D) running in the general election for NE-02

By

Elisabeth Moore

Incumbent Don Bacon (R) and Tony Vargas (D) are running in the general election for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District on November 5, 2024. The election is a rematch from 2022, when Bacon defeated Vargas 51.3% to 48.7%.

The Guardian wrote that it was “not difficult to imagine a scenario in which the [presidential] race does come down to the urbanized and relatively diverse district spread across three counties on Nebraska’s eastern flank.”

Bacon was first elected in 2016. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1985 to 2014, retiring as a brigadier general. His campaign is focused on his rating as the most effective Republican in Congress, decreasing the cost of living, and protecting the southern border. According to the most recent campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Bacon has raised $4.3 million and spent $2.1 million.

Vargas was elected to the Nebraska Senate in 2016. He served on the Omaha Public Schools board and was a public school teacher. His campaign is focused on legal access to abortion, the economy, and increasing education access. According to the most recent campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Vargas has raised $3.6 million and spent $1.1 million.

Nebraska is one of two states that awards a portion of its electoral votes to its three congressional districts. According to 270towin, Nebraska allocates “two electoral votes to the state popular vote winner, and then one electoral vote to the popular vote winner in each congressional district.”

Since 1991, Democrats won the 2nd District’s electoral vote twice: Barack Obama (2008) and Joe Biden (2020). Both years, the Republican incumbent in the district won re-election: Lee Terry (2008) and Don Bacon (2020).

Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District is one of 34 congressional districts with a Republican incumbent or an open seat the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is targeting in 2024. The major independent election forecasters rate the general election as Lean Republican and Toss-Up.