Rep. Don Bacon fends off Trump-aligned primary challenger Dan Frei in Nebraska primary (2024)

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Bacon held off populist challenger Dan Frei in the Republican primary for Nebraska’s 2nd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Bacon, 60, led by a 63%-37% margin at 11 p.m. Tuesday evening, with 75% of precincts reporting.

The race reflected a battle raging for control of the Nebraska Republican Party, pitting the Trump-aligned wing of the party against the long-dominant establishment class that is more traditional and business-friendly. Frei was backed by the newer wing, Bacon by the establishment.

“Our voters want a conservative, but they want someone who is effective and will work across the aisle to get things done,” Bacon said. “They don’t want the ‘burn-it-down' philosophy of my opponent.”

Frei did not immediately concede, but he acknowledged in a speech to a party of his supporters at Tiburon Golf Club that the night wasn’t going his way.

“Sometimes change doesn’t look like what you feel and think it’s going to look like,” he said. “And while we may not end up in D.C. as a congressman tonight, what we know is that we’re going to be a part of this continued change in the Republican Party in Nebraska.”

Bacon’s victory means he will face a November general-election rematch against State Sen. Tony Vargas, who advanced unopposed in the Democratic Party. Bacon beat Vargas by a 51%-49% margin in 2022. Nebraska’s 2nd District is one of the most closely contested in the country.

Frei, 60, a regional sales manager for a financial services firm, had claimed the backing of the state GOP as well as the Republican central committees in Douglas, Sarpy, and Saunders counties, which comprise the 2nd District. Insurgents aligned with former President Donald Trump had taken over control of those groups.

Bacon had countered with endorsem*nts from more than 100 state and local elected officials including Gov. Jim Pillen, Secretary of State Bob Evnen, Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine, and State Sens. Kathleen Kauth and Tom Brewer.

He also campaigned on his effectiveness as a legislator, including a rating by the Center for Effective Leadership as the most effective Republican member of Congress in getting his legislative priorities passed. He also touted his service on the Agriculture and Armed Services committees, and his work to secure funds for the reconstruction of Offutt Air Force Base and the Nebraska National Guard's Camp Ashland.

Frei knocked on thousands of doors across District 2 and believed he could ride the same wave of discontent that helped the Trump-inspired insurgents topple the leadership of the Nebraska Republican Party and many county Republican committees.

But they were unable to win over voters like Tom Mann, 72, who lives in northwest Omaha and said he valued Bacon's military service.

“I think we need someone in office who knows what it means to commit troops overseas,” Mann said. “He knows the cost. It’s not just another Benghazi.”

Frei had hoped to better his performance from 2014, when he lost narrowly to incumbent Rep. Lee Terry in the GOP primary race for the same congressional seat.

That year, Frei carried the banner of the fiscally conservative Tea Party wing of the Republican Party. Terry went on to lose to Democrat Brad Ashford in the general election.

This year, he aligned himself with the populist “Make America Great Again” movement of former President Donald Trump.

Frei was unable to overcome Bacon’s enormous fundraising advantage. Through April 24 (the end of the last reporting period) Bacon had raised $3.46 million, compared to $126,000 for Frei, a 27-1 advantage.

Bacon’s single largest source of support came from pro-Israel individuals and groups, which contributed $339,221 to his campaign. Individual retirees and leadership PACs also contributed over $300,000 each, while individuals and PACs in the securities and investment industries chipped in $292,000.

The next question is whether the party will come together after what Bacon called "the most ugly campaign I've ever seen." Vargas has raised $2.4 million, and his cash-on-hand is almost equal to Bacon's. Democrats at the national level are targeting the district, which was won by President Joe Biden in 2020. They believe it is winnable this year.

"In the end, we're going to have to pull together," Bacon said. "There's much more that draws us together than pulls us apart. We can't afford to throw away this seat."