District 2 Republican candidates earn several opposing endorsements
By Kassidy Arena 
, Senior Reporter Nebraska Public Media News
April 22, 2024, 4:30 p.m. ·
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This story has been updated to reflect the additional and change of county endorsements.
Two familiar names will appear on the May 14 Republican primary ballot for to represent District 2 in the U.S. House: incumbent Don Bacon and former 2014 candidate Dan Frei. Each is gaining endorsements from big-name hitters.
Bacon has recently received support from Gov. Jim Pillen and other elected officials and community representatives. Bacon formerly had the support of the Douglas County Republican Party. Douglas GOP Chairman Chris Routh introduced Bacon at a press conference Monday, stating his support. At that press conference announcing more than 100 endorsements, Bacon discussed the division he has noticed within the Republican Party, as is made evident by the Nebraska GOP supporting his opponent.
“I don't walk through the tape in a race, I sprint. And we're gonna leave nothing for granted. We're gonna run hard. We’re gonna run a positive campaign,” Bacon said at a press conference announcing his endorsements.
Frei was amongst those endorsed by the Nebraska GOP. This is the first time the state party has not endorsed any incumbents.
Frei also received support from the Sarpy County Republican Party as well as Saunders County. In a meeting that was not called by nor approved by Chairman Routhe, the Douglas County Republican Party announced a switch: choosing to endorse Frei instead of Bacon. This makes Frei the only candidate to have the endorsements of each county in the second congressional district.
“I'm very grateful. But I'm not surprised,” Frei said. “When you look at the Nebraska Republican Party and who makes that party up, it's people that are just fed up.”
Nebraska’s second congressional district is made up of Douglas, Saunders and part of Sarpy Counties. Office holders and representatives from each of these counties offer the candidates a mixed bag of endorsements; some supporting Frei and others endorsing Bacon.
Some polls show Bacon has a lead over Frei with a small margin of voters still undecided.
As far as the perceived division, Bacon maintains his confidence that after the primary election, there will be some healing within Nebraska’s Republican Party as a whole.