Latest news with #reelection
Washington Post
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Republican Rep. Don Bacon, a vocal Trump critic, won't seek reelection
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska), a vocal critic of President Donald Trump on a range of issues, will not seek reelection, according to a person familiar with his plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information. His purple district is seen as a battleground, making the decision welcome news for Democrats as they attempt to retake the House in next year's midterms. The news of Bacon's plans was first reported by Punchbowl News and NOTUS.
Washington Post
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Centrist Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska won't seek reelection
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a centrist Republican who represents Nebraska's second district with its so-called 'blue dot' that includes many progressive voters around Omaha, will not seek reelection. That's according to a person familiar with his plans and granted anonymity to discuss them Friday. Bacon is known as an independent-minded Air Force veteran who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and has been at the center of many debates in Congress. He has also been chairman of the conservative-centrist Republican Main Street Caucus in the House.
Associated Press
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Centrist Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska won't seek reelection
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a centrist Republican who represents Nebraska's second district with its so-called 'blue dot' that includes many progressive voters around Omaha, will not seek reelection. That's according to a person familiar with his plans and granted anonymity to discuss them Friday. Bacon is known as an independent-minded Air Force veteran who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and has been at the center of many debates in Congress. He has also been chairman of the conservative-centrist Republican Main Street Caucus in the House. First elected in 2016, he won reelection in 2024, is expected to finish his term. Punchbowl News was first to report Bacon's expected decision.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
At Belleville campaign stop, Illinois Gov. Pritzker touts metro-east investments
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker continued a statewide tour announcing his reelection bid for a third term on Friday — and pitched Metro East residents on his record of state investments in the region. Speaking to a crowd at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, the Democratic governor touted his administration's funding of a handful of projects: New public safety center in East St. Louis Southwestern Illinois Justice & Workforce Development Campus in Belleville Repairs to Interstate 270 and the New Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison County Terminal expansion at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in St. Clair County Construction of the new Madison County Transit headquarters in Pontoon Beach Expansion of a copper plant in East Alton with state incentives Repairs to Cahokia Heights' decrepit stormwater and sewer system 'It's been a lot of years since we've seen this many big projects happening in this region, and I'm so proud of that,' Pritzker said. 'It's happened because of all of you. You've expressed the need for it. It's been realized and recognized by the people you sent to Springfield, and then we delivered on it. That's how state government ought to work.' Friday's appearance in Belleville marked the governor's fifth stop across the state after he announced Thursday that he'd seek a third term. 'Belleville, SWIC and Metro East, all you who are here today, it would be my honor to serve you for another four years,' the two-term governor said to applause. After his Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton threw her name into the mix for Sen. Dick Durbin's seat, Pritzker has yet to name a running mate for this election cycle, although he's said he will make that decision by the end of July. Pritzker's decision to run for a third term comes as many speculate he could have ambitions for the White House.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nebraska U.S. Rep. Don Bacon will not seek reelection in Nebraska's 2nd District
One House Republican strategist who works on campaigns across the country and five local Republicans familiar with his process say Bacon is not running for reelection. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) OMAHA — Nebraska Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon appears poised to leave Congress in early 2027. One House Republican strategist who works on campaigns across the country said Bacon was not running for reelection and that he had already telegraphed what he was going to do. He spoke to the Examiner Friday on the condition that he not be named publicly, because he was not authorized to share the decision. 'Don't get me wrong,' the consultant said. 'This seat is tougher without Bacon, but he's not special. It can be done.' Five other local Republican sources familiar with Bacon's choice confirmed that he had decided to skip the 2026 race. They echoed Friday evening reports from Washington, D.C., including from Punchbowl News. Bacon's campaign had no immediate comment on the reports. But people who know politics in Nebraska's Omaha-based 2nd District had been buzzing for days about the possibility of Bacon making a decision as soon as next week. Bacon had planned to meet with local reporters early next week. Part of the buzz came from a group of Nebraska Republicans waiting on Bacon's decision, a list that local conservatives have said includes former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom and Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding, and might also include Bacon's 2024 GOP primary challenger, Dan Frei. Bacon, in recent interviews with the Nebraska Examiner and other publications, had been hinting that he might step away, with the retired Air Force brigadier saying that he had to speak with his family and decide. Bacon's decision would cause national political shockwaves, as Bacon represents one of a handful of true swing districts left nationally, one that is Nebraska's most political divided and diverse. The 2nd District includes all of Douglas and Saunders Counties and a significant slice of western suburban and rural Sarpy County. The district includes the state's largest concentration of Democrats and was redistricted to include a larger swath of Republican-leaning rural voters in Wahoo and surrounding areas. Neither the Nebraska Republican Party nor the National Republican Congressional Committee had any immediate comment. 'The writing has been on the wall for months,' said Madison Andrus, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of congressional Democrats. Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, tweeted after Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman tweeted the news that local Democrats have been ready. 'Don Bacon and all the Republicans who give Trump cover see the writing on the wall–voters actually want politicians to focus on issues that impact our pocket books not made up culture wars,' she said. She touted the Democrats who have already announced, including political action committee co-founder and business owner Denise Powell and State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha. Before word of Bacon's future broke on Friday, a third major Democrat confirmed she is considering a bid, Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades. Powell, in a statement, thanks Bacon for his service in the military and in Congress and said it 'takes courage to recognize when a fresh perspective is warranted.' 'This district is clearly ready for — and deserves — change,' Powell said. Cavanaugh, in a statement, thanked Bacon 'for his decades of service to his country' and wished him well. 'The people of Nebraska's 2nd District know it's time for a change,' Cavanaugh said. Rhoades, in a statement, said Bacon had 'finally realized what has been obvious to all of us: Republicans can't defend their record this year.' 'Costs are going up, they're cutting healthcare, but they're giving tax breaks to billionaires,' Rhoades said. Bacon has been able to fend off multiple Democratic challengers in recent years, thanks in part to the district's slight GOP tilt. Now, it could be a mad dash for both parties toward an open seat. The retired Air Force brigadier general gained national attention for being one of the few Republicans to criticize President Donald Trump, though, despite Bacon's criticism, he often ended up siding with his party as a reliable GOP vote. He survived pointed criticism from Trump and multiple attempts to recruit a GOP challenger from the president and his political team. Bacon most recently defeated former State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha in back-to-back elections. Before that, he defeated Omaha progressive Kara Eastman in two successive contests. And he won election in 2016 by defeating the last Democrat to hold the 'blue dot' seat, the late-U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford, D-Neb. Besides the two highest-profile Democratic candidates in the race, Mark Johnston and Evangelos Argyrakis have confirmed they are running. Whoever emerges from the 2026 Democratic primary will have to tangle with a former gubernatorial candidate in Lindstrom, a longtime City Council member in Harding or perhaps a state officeholder on the Republican side. The nonpartisan Center for Politics, the home of Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball, just shifted the Omaha-based House race to lean Democrat from toss-up. Examiner Editor-in-chief Aaron Sanderford contributed to this report. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
