Bacon declared winner over Vargas

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Incumbent Republican Don Bacon was declared victorious Friday in the race against Democratic Congressional candidate Tony Vargas to represent Nebraska's competitive 2nd Congressional District.

Results for Nebraska’s congressional race weren’t called until three days after the polls closed. The congressional election was the last race to be called in the state.

Bacon eventually won the race by about 7,000 votes.

Vargas held a small lead for most of Tuesday night, but Bacon overtook the former State Senator in the overnight hours and held onto it until the race was called.

Bacon had already declared victory Tuesday evening, and at an event Wednesday Bacon discussed his objectives, including a desire to see through an expansion at Offutt Airforce Base and plans for a new VA hospital.

“We're going to finish the building, rebuilding at Offutt,” he said. “Thankfully, Ashland has already been rebuilt after the floods. We’ve still got to finish the jobs at Offutt and at Eppley, but we have a goal here of getting an inpatient VA clinic or hospital. And we got to get the job done. And we know that there's $60-$65 million already being offered up by the local community to help make that possible. So our job is to get with the VA, DOD and get a plan together, because we got a 1950s facility and we got to turn that around.”

Following the announcement, Vargas released a statement thanking his supporters.

“Thank you to the tens of thousands of people who believed in me, supported my campaign and voted for my vision for this district," he wrote. "This campaign has always been about giving a voice to working families and uniting our community. Throughout my career, I’ve worked across the aisle to help parents, seniors, and students, and I will continue that fight. 

“I am the son of immigrants who came here with nothing and sacrificed so much for our family. My parents worked hard so my brothers and I could get an education and decide what we wanted for our lives. That’s why I work as hard as I possibly can, every day, so that people can have that same opportunity. I know the challenges facing Nebraskans right now because I’ve lived them – the difficulty to find affordable housing, to pay for groceries, gas, childcare, and medical bills. And while this wasn’t the outcome we’d hoped for, our work is not going to stop tonight. I will continue to serve.” 

The race was a rematch between the same candidates who ran in a close race two years ago that was also decided by a slim margin.

The two debated in early October, resulting in each making a number of assertions about his opponent.

Vargas criticized Bacon for having co-sponsored legislation that would have extended constitutional protections for life to “persons” from the moment of fertilization. Bacon responded that was a statement of principle, and he has always supported exceptions to allow abortion to save the life of the mother.

He also accused Vargas of favoring abortion up to the moment of birth, while Vargas has said he favors a return to the framework of Roe v. Wade, which generally allowed abortion up to fetal viability, at about 24 weeks of pregnancy.

On taxes, Bacon has faulted Vargas for favoring an increase in state income taxes during his time in the Legislature. Vargas has accused Bacon of increasing taxes on the middle class by failing to support an extension of COVID-era child tax credits.

On crime, Bacon has criticized Vargas for participating in demonstrations critical of Omaha police following the killing of George Floyd in 2020. Vargas has pointed to his legislative record of supporting increased funding for law enforcement.

The race was expected to be tight in the closely divided district, one of the few genuine “swing” districts in the country. Thirty eight percent of district voters are registered as Republicans, 35% as Democrats and 27% are registered nonpartisan or to another party.

Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado came from Fort Worth, Texas to attend the watch party and support Vargas.

“I was very involved in local politics here, primarily as a political science professor at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and really trying to get young people enthusiastic about the political process and sometimes eventually running for political office,” he said. “I met Tony about a dozen years ago, and immediately found him to be different, and so we talked a lot about his ambition and what he could do. And I've been so happy to see him serve at different levels, you know, with the school board and then with the state legislature.”

Bacon has received criticisms from more conservative elements within his own party and faced Republican businessman Dan Frei in the primary election in May. Bacon won with 62% of votes. Vargas ran uncontested.

Gov. Jim Pillen said on election night he believed Bacon had a strong chance of winning the seat.

"He is key to global nuclear deterrence, and his voice,” Pillen said. “Everybody understands that, it's clear he needs to continue to serve. I think he'll win. It's a tight, tight race, but he'll win."

Two years ago, Bacon defeated Vargas, 51-49%. This year, several polls had Vargas ahead, but the polls were within the margin of error.

Adding to national interest in the race is the fact that Nebraska awards three of its five Electoral College votes for president to the winner of each of its three congressional districts. In the eight presidential elections since the state adopted that system in 1991, the Republican presidential candidate has won all five of the state’s Electoral College votes six times.

But in 2008 and 2020, Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden were able to pick up one electoral vote by winning in the 2nd Congressional District, earning the district the nickname of the “Blue Dot.”

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb issued a statement after presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Tim Walz won Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District and secured one electoral vote from Nebraska in the national race.

"Tonight, Nebraska sent a message: when it comes to our freedoms, our families, and our future, we are not going to sit by and let others define us,” she said. “Voters in the blue dot spoke loud and clear to choose a brighter, more hopeful future, and we are proud to be a small but mighty piece of sending Kamala Harris and our Nebraska native Tim Walz to the White House to be a resident and vice president for all Americans."