House Speaker Johnson kicks off big political weekend in Nebraska’s 2nd District
U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., discusses the difficulty of running in a mixed district when former President Donald Trump is investing less than Vice President Kamala Harris in winning the 2nd Congressional District. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)
OMAHA — House Speaker Mike Johnson launched a weekend of national political visits to Nebraska's 2nd District with a stop Friday at Beth El Synagogue to stump for one of his own, Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon.
Johnson partly owes his speakership to Bacon, a friend and ally of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy who resisted Freedom Caucus efforts to replace McCarthy with Ohio's Jim Jordan, and held out for another choice.
Like during his previous visits , Johnson prodded voters to help Republicans maintain control of the House by re-electing Bacon over Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha.
He emphasized the importance of having the national security knowledge of a retired Air Force brigadier general in Congress at a time of international tumult, including wars in the Middle East and Europe.
"His race is very important, not just to Omaha, not just to ... Nebraska, but to the whole country," Johnson said. "The road to the majority runs through California and New York and right here in this district."
Vargas has help coming, too
National politicos are converging on Nebraska this weekend for Bacon and Vargas, a stray Electoral College vote in the presidential tilt and a tight race between Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and registered nonpartisan Dan Osborn.
Vargas has his own visitor coming with designs on becoming Speaker of the House if Democrats win, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. He is attending a Vargas event on Sunday in North Omaha.
Then Vice President Kamala Harris has Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz hosting an event Saturday in Sarpy County. And Trump has Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard coming to Omaha hours later.
Bacon thanked Johnson for helping him raise funds and for steering donors toward his race against Vargas. Johnson said Bacon-Vargas is one of a handful of House races facing at least $20 million in outside spending.
Bacon said competing with outside money from Democrats has been more difficult this time than in 2016 or 2020 because Trump's campaign is not spending as much on advertising in the 2nd District as Harris.
"Harris and (President Joe) Biden have spent $21 million," Bacon said. "Trump has spent (about) zero. And the fact that some people think I'm up right now ... that tracks us very closely. ... I think it says a lot.
Johnson bullish about GOP chances
Johnson said he is bullish about Republican chances to add and hold seats from his visits to swing districts. He said he expects larger GOP support from Black and Latino voters supporting Trump to help them.
Vargas campaign spokesman Meg Mandy said she was not surprised to see Johnson and Bacon working together in the 2nd District, much like they worked together to support legislation granting personhood to a fetus.
Legal experts have said that amendment, which Bacon co-sponsored before Roe v. Wade was overturned, would have effectively outlawed abortion by extending criminal and civil law protections to the unborn.
Vargas has repeatedly pointed out that Bacon, who has long expressed support for exceptions for the life of the mother and rape and incest, co-sponsored the amendment, which contained no exceptions.
Bacon has said he is "pro-life," for religious reasons as a Christian, and that he supported the amendment as a "statement of principles." He has said he believes a woman's life would still have been protected.
"Who else would Don Bacon bring to Nebraska to save his flailing campaign than fellow anti-abortion extremist Mike Johnson?" Mandy said. "Johnson knows he can count on Bacon to push their extreme agenda."
Johnson's visit with Bacon included attending a private forum at Beth El during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which celebrates the Jewish people's four-decade migration from Egypt to what became Israel.
Both expressed support for Israel against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. They described this month as a time to recall the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. Both celebrated the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar
"It's good versus evil," Johnson said.
Vargas, in debates with Bacon this month, has also expressed solidarity with Jewish leaders following the attacks. Both have sidestepped questions about steps to prevent civilian deaths in Gaza and Lebanon.
