Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District

Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District

Incumbent

Don Bacon

Assumed office: January 3, 2017

Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Don Bacon (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Nebraska representatives represented an average of 654,444 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 610,608 residents.

Elections

• 2030
• 2028
• 2026
• 2024
• 2022
• 2020
• 2018

See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2030

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2028

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Evangelos Argyrakis (D)
		Kishla Askins (D)
		John Cavanaugh (D)
	Submit photo	James Leuschen (D)
		Denise Powell (D)
		Crystal Rhoades (D)
		Brinker Harding (R)
		Brett Lindstrom (R)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Don Bacon (R)
• Mark Johnston (D)

See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024

General election

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Incumbent Don Bacon (R) defeated Tony Vargas (D) in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Don Bacon (R)	50.9	160,198
		Tony Vargas (D)	49.1	154,369

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 314,567
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Tony Vargas (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 14, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Vargas	100.0	39,038

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 39,038
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Incumbent Don Bacon (R) defeated Dan Frei (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 14, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Don Bacon	62.0	35,748
		Dan Frei	38.0	21,946

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 57,694
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Incumbent Don Bacon (R) defeated Tony Vargas (D) in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Don Bacon (R)	51.3	112,663
		Tony Vargas (D)	48.7	106,807

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 219,470
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Tony Vargas (D) defeated Alisha Shelton (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 10, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Vargas	68.6	31,930
		Alisha Shelton	31.4	14,585

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 46,515
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Cornelius Williams (D)

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Incumbent Don Bacon (R) defeated Steve Kuehl (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 10, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Don Bacon	77.1	53,824
		Steve Kuehl	22.9	15,945

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 69,769
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Incumbent Don Bacon (R) defeated Kara Eastman (D) and Tyler Schaeffer (L) in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Don Bacon (R)	50.8	171,071
		Kara Eastman (D)	46.2	155,706
	Submit photo	Tyler Schaeffer (L)	3.0	10,185

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 336,962
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Kara Eastman (D) defeated Ann Ashford (D) and Gladys Harrison (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 12, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kara Eastman	62.2	45,953
		Ann Ashford	31.2	23,059
	Submit photo	Gladys Harrison	6.7	4,920

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 73,932
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Morgann Freeman (D)

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Incumbent Don Bacon (R) defeated Paul Anderson (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 12, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Don Bacon	90.6	68,531
	Submit photo	Paul Anderson	9.4	7,106

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 75,637
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian Party primary

Libertarian primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Tyler Schaeffer (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 12, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Tyler Schaeffer	100.0	964

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 964
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Incumbent Don Bacon (R) defeated Kara Eastman (D) in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Don Bacon (R)	51.0	126,715
		Kara Eastman (D)	49.0	121,770

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 248,485 (100% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Kara Eastman (D) defeated Brad Ashford (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 15, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kara Eastman	51.6	21,357
		Brad Ashford	48.4	19,998

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 41,355
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Incumbent Don Bacon (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 15, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Don Bacon	100.0	33,852

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 33,852
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Previous election results

2016

See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2016

Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District was a battleground district in 2016. Don Bacon (R) defeated Democratic incumbent Brad Ashford and Steven Laird (L) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Bacon defeated Chip Maxwell to win the Republican primary, while Laird defeated Andy Shambaugh and Jeffrey Lynn Stein to win the Libertarian nomination. The primary elections took place on May 10, 2016.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 2 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Don Bacon	48.9%	141,066
	Democratic	Brad Ashford Incumbent	47.7%	137,602
	Libertarian	Steven Laird	3.3%	9,640
Total Votes				288,308
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

U.S. House, Nebraska District 2 Republican Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Don Bacon	66%	32,328
Chip Maxwell	34%	16,677
Total Votes		49,005
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

U.S. House, Nebraska District 2 Libertarian Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Steven Laird	46.2%	108
Andy Shambaugh	38%	89
Jeffrey Lynn Stein	15.8%	37
Total Votes		234
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

2014

See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District elections, 2014

The 2nd Congressional District of Nebraska held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Brad Ashford (D) defeated incumbent Lee Terry (R) and Steven Laird (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 2 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Brad Ashford	49%	83,872
	Republican	Lee Terry Incumbent	45.7%	78,157
	Libertarian	Steven Laird	5.3%	9,021
Total Votes				171,050
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

2012

See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District elections, 2012

The 2nd Congressional District of Nebraska held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Lee Terry won re-election in the district.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 2 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	John Ewing	49.2%	129,767
	Republican	Lee Terry Incumbent	50.8%	133,964
Total Votes				263,731
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

Primary results

The primary was held on May 15.

Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Lee Terry	59.5%	27,998
Brett Lindstrom	22.8%	10,753
Jack Heidel	11.5%	5,406
Glenn Freeman	4%	1,885
Paul Anderson	2.2%	1,051
Total Votes		47,093

Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
John Ewing	62%	17,954
Gwen Howard	38%	11,009
Total Votes		28,963

2010
On November 2, 2010, Lee Terry won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Tom White (D) in the general election.

United States House, Nebraska District 2, General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lee Terry incumbent	60.8%	93,840
	Democratic	Tom White	39.2%	60,486
Total Votes				154,326

2008
On November 4, 2008, Lee Terry won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Jim Esch (D) in the general election.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 2 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lee Terry incumbent	51.9%	142,473
	Democratic	Jim Esch	48.1%	131,901
Total Votes				274,374

2006
On November 7, 2006, Lee Terry won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Jim Esch (D) in the general election.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 2 General Election, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lee Terry incumbent	54.7%	99,475
	Democratic	Jim Esch	45.3%	82,504
Total Votes				181,979

2004
On November 2, 2004, Lee Terry won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Nancy Thompson (D), Jack Graziano (L) and Dante Salvatierra (Green) in the general election.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 2 General Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lee Terry incumbent	61.1%	152,608
	Democratic	Nancy Thompson	36.2%	90,292
	Libertarian	Jack Graziano	1.9%	4,656
	Green	Dante Salvatierra	0.9%	2,208
Total Votes				249,764

2002
On November 5, 2002, Lee Terry won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Jim Simon (D), Dave Stock (L) and Doug Paterson (G) in the general election.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 2 General Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lee Terry incumbent	63.3%	89,917
	Democratic	Jim Simon	33%	46,843
	Green	Doug Paterson	2.3%	3,236
	Libertarian	Dave Stock	1.4%	2,018
Total Votes				142,014

2000
On November 7, 2000, Lee Terry won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Shelley Kiel (D) and John Graziano (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 2 General Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lee Terry incumbent	65.8%	148,911
	Democratic	Shelley Kiel	31.1%	70,268
	Libertarian	John Graziano	3%	6,856
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	245
Total Votes				226,280

District map

Redistricting

2020-2021

See also: Redistricting in Nebraska after the 2020 census

On September 30, 2021, the Nebraska State Legislature approved a new congressional map, 35-11. Gov. Pete Ricketts signed the map into law shortly afterwards. This map took effect for Nebraska's 2022 congressional elections.

How does redistricting in Nebraska work? In Nebraska, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. A simple majority is required to approve a redistricting plan, which is subject to veto by the governor.

The Nebraska Constitution requires that state legislative districts "be contiguous and compact, and they keep to county boundaries 'whenever practicable.'"

On April 8, 2011, the state legislature approved the following redistricting guidelines:

1. Congressional districts should be held to the same aforementioned constitutional requirements as state legislative districts.
2. Both congressional and state legislative districts should be "understandable to voters, preserve the cores of prior districts, and keep to boundaries of cities and villages when feasible."
3. District boundaries "should not be established with the intention of favoring a political party, other group or any person."

The legislature is entitled to amend these guidelines at its discretion.

2020

2024

2010-2011

This is the 2nd Congressional District of Nebraska after the 2001 redistricting process.

See also: Redistricting in Nebraska after the 2010 census

In 2011, the Nebraska State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

2026

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is D+3. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 3 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Nebraska's 2nd the 189th most Democratic district nationally.

2024

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was EVEN. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were about the same as the national average. This made Nebraska's 2nd the 209th most Democratic district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have defeated Donald Trump (R) 52.2%-45.8%.

2022

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was EVEN. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were about the same as the national average. This made Nebraska's 2nd the 226th most Republican district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 52.2% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 45.8%.

2018

Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+4. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 4 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District the 204th most Republican nationally.

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.05. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.05 points toward that party.

See also

• Redistricting in Nebraska
• Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024
• Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2022
• Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020
• Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 2

Footnotes

[show]

Nebraska's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Deb Fischer (R)

Pete Ricketts (R)

Representatives

District 1

Mike Flood (R)

District 2

Don Bacon (R)

District 3

Adrian Smith (R)

Republican Party (5)