Vargas Says He'll Run for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District

July 13, 2021, 3 p.m. ·

State Senator Tony Vargas
State Senator Tony Vargas says he'll run for Congress next year. (Photo courtesy of Tony Vargas campaign)

Nebraska State Senator Tony Vargas has announced he’ll run for the 2nd Congressional District in next year’s election. Vargas has been in the Nebraska Legislature representing District 7 in the Omaha area since 2016. He also served on the Omaha Public School Board before his time in the legislature. He said he’s ready to represent people who are facing adversity.

“People are facing a lot of difficult challenges these days and I think they deserve somebody in Congress that understands and has lived these experiences and can constantly be fighting for a better life for them, for working families,” Vargas said.

Vargas is the second Democrat to enter the race to unseat incumbent Republican Don Bacon, who was first elected in 2016. Alisha Shelton announced she’ll run as well last month. Vargas said he’s a unifier and ready to work across the aisle in Congress.

“That’s why I’m running,” Vargas said. “I’ve been able to that here in the Nebraska Legislature by engaging with my colleagues, breaking bread, sitting down with them, trying to figure out how to solve some of these pressing issues. That approach is what I’m going to do in Congress.”

Democrat Joe Biden won the 2nd Congressional District in the 2020 Presidential election while at the same time voters re-elected Republican Bacon to a third term.