Voters in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District may have a rematch in 2024 between incumbent Congressman Don Bacon and State Senator Tony Vargas. On July 7th. Vargas announced his campaign to run for Congress in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. Vargas was the Democratic Party’s nominee in 2022 but was defeated by incumbent Congressman Don Bacon by three percentage points. Nebraska’s 2nd District is the most competitive in the state with a tight voter margin between the two major political parties. Republicans have a 3% advantage over Democrats in registered voters or 9,500 voter advantage. However, there are 99,728 registered non-partisan or independent voters in the district. In the 2022 General Election, Congressman Bacon defeated Vargas by 5,856 votes. The 2024 Election will include a Presidential race and two U.S. Senate races in Nebraska could drive voters to the polls. The key for the candidates that win their party’s nomination will be not just securing their base voters but also appealing to the nearly 100,000 independent voters. Both national political parties are likely to spend a significant amount of money in 2024 with Nebraska being only one of two states that proportions its Presidential electoral votes by Congressional District and statewide votes.
In 2020, the Credit Union National Advocacy Fund (NAF) collaborated with nine (9) Omaha area credit unions in supporting Congressman Bacon’s re-election through direct credit union member communications which reached 70,000 credit union members. In 2022, CULAC the PAC of Credit Unions, supported the re-election of Congressman Bacon with an independent expenditure utilizing direct voter mail, cable television ads, and online ads which were positive in nature.
Congressman Bacon has been a credit union member for over 30 years and has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2016. He sits on the House Armed Services Committee and the Agriculture Committee. State Senator Vargas has served in the Unicameral since 2016 where he has served on the Appropriations Committee. Both political parties will nominate their respective candidates in Nebraska’s Primary Election to be held on May 14, 2024.
