(Picture credit Matt Johnson)
OMAHA — Congressman Don Bacon, who will have served five terms representing Omaha’s “blue dot” when he leaves office next year, made waves over the weekend when he suggested he might consider a presidential run.
Appearing on the Republican Legacy podcast, Bacon said, “I won’t lie. Yes. I would love to, but I’m also just as happy to be the right-hand man or left-hand man to someone else that has the same values.”
Those remarks circulated quickly, including in The Hill. The Plains Sentinel caught up with Bacon to ask for more clarity on his plans.
“It’s really not about me,” Bacon said. “I’m happy to help someone else who has this message.”
Bacon, who has crossed party lines to vote with Democrats on issues ranging from the Biden infrastructure law to the Respect for Marriage Act, sees problems in both parties.
“I want to be a voice of reason,” Bacon said. “We need a bipartisan solution to the debt and immigration. And we need someone who won’t use the DOJ to go after enemies, [who will] stop using the office to enrich families, [and who will] restore alliances.”
When he announced his retirement from Congress, Bacon cited family in the Omaha area as a main reason for staying in the district. He did not rule out a presidential run in his conversation with The Plains Sentinel, but he made clear he would be willing to help the right person if they stepped forward.
“I want to make a positive impact. If a better person steps up, I’ll support them. Both parties have gone off the rails. Leadership and a conscience are needed.”
Bacon Gets Mixed Reaction
Bacon’s comments have so far received a mixed reaction from Republicans.
Chris Vance, the executive director of Our Republican Legacy, told the Washington Examiner he was excited by the possibility of an old-school Republican like Bacon running for president next cycle.
“He is the type of principled Republican who stood up for core conservative values that we believe needs to be in this race,” Vance said. “We believe there’s absolutely a lane in 2028 for a traditional Republican like Don Bacon.”
Reaction on social media was more critical.
One consultant, who has worked with GOP presidential campaigns, told The Plains Sentinel that Bacon would be unlikely to win the Republican nomination if he ran, but that a run could open up other opportunities for him.
“I think it would be a very, very difficult road for a candidate of Don Bacon’s profile,” the consultant said, adding, “It’s never a bad idea for a Republican candidate to run for president. It can raise their profile nationally, it can sell books, it can raise speaking fees, it can ensure a lot of bookings on mainstream and conservative media, but it’s not going to result in a Don Bacon presidency. Of that I can be very confident.”
GOP observers said they do not think it is likely that Bacon decides to run in the end, but do think he will try and be involved in some way with the next presidential election and administration.
Another Nebraska President?
If Bacon runs, he would be the first Nebraska presidential contender in a generation. The last Nebraskan to make a serious run for the presidency was former Governor and Senator Bob Kerrey in 1992.
Kerrey’s run lasted less than six months, and he dropped out after winning only one state, South Dakota. Kerrey’s run was notable for pushing national healthcare as well as a hot mic moment where he was caught telling a “massively insensitive” lesbian joke to Bill Clinton about fellow competitor, former California Governor Jerry Brown.
According to the New York Times, Clinton declined to comment on whether he laughed at the joke.
The last Republican to run for president was Gerald Ford.
— Matt Johnson is a freelance reporter with The Plains Sentinel.
— John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.