Don Bacon, House GOP lawmaker critical of Trump’s handling of Ukraine war, won’t seek re-election: reports 

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) will not seek re-election in his swing district in 2026 and instead retire from the House of Representatives, according to multiple reports. 

Bacon, who has served five terms in the lower chamber representing Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, is expected to make a formal announcement on Monday, Punchbowl News and the New York Times reported on Friday. 

Bacon’s district went for Kamala Harris over President Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Getty Images

The congressman’s office and campaign would not confirm reports of his imminent retirement, but Bacon has shared several messages thanking him for his service on Capitol Hill on X.

Bacon’s district, which encompasses Nebraska’s largest city, Omaha, went for former Vice President Kamala Harris over President Trump in the 2024 election. 

The district also voted for former President Joe Biden over Trump in the 2020 presidential contest. 

Bacon himself narrowly won re-election last year, defeating his Democratic opponent by less than 2 percentage points. 

His departure opens the door for Democrats to pick up a seat in the House, which is narrowly controlled by Republicans, after the 2026 midterm elections. 

Bacon, 61, has been an outspoken critic of Trump’s approach to negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s three-year-long war against Ukraine.  

Bacon has been critical of Trump’s handling of the war in Ukraine. Ron Sachs/CNP / SplashNews.com

Earlier this year, he told The Post he felt Trump was taking “a pro-Russian view” of the conflict and that the president has been “a bit of an appeaser to Russia.” 

Bacon slammed Trump’s “moral ambiguity” last month after the president took aim at Russian President Vladimir Putin – calling him “crazy” – for allowing a massive airstrike targeting Ukrainian civilians, but went on to criticize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the same post. 

“The first half of this message is perfect, the rest is dumb,” Bacon said at the time. “Trump is attacking President Zelensky while Putin bombs Ukrainian cities and it is misguided.”

“Moral ambiguity while one nation invades another is hurting Trump’s credibility. Putin is making a mockery of Trump, and Trump keeps attacking Zelensky.”