OMAHA — U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., beat an incumbent Democrat in 2016. He survived a “blue wave” election in 2018. He outpolled former President Donald Trump locally in 2020. And he drew no top-tier GOP challenger in this year’s primary race, despite Trump seeking one.

Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, faces his most formidable opponent yet in State Sen. Tony Vargas, a South Omaha Democrat with a legislative record.

Vargas, a former teacher and nonprofit employee, just wrapped up a legislative session where he helped pass a $1 billion tax relief package, 43-0. Income tax cuts, property tax offsets, and faster tax cuts on Social Security income were included.

Bacon considers himself a conservative with a record of bipartisan votes, including one that got Trump's attention: the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package that President Joe Biden sought. Bacon noted that Nebraska will receive billions in funding from the measure. Bacon voted with Trump about 89% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight.com.

Abortion is the clear line between the two candidates. Vargas voted against Legislative Bill 933, a "trigger" bill that would have banned abortion in Nebraska if Roe v. Wade were overturned. Bacon, however, is unapologetically anti-abortion and said he prefers decisions about abortion to be made at the state level.

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