Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Don Bacon

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Don Bacon made an impact.

Don Bacon is an American politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district, a position he has held since 2017. Prior to his political career, Bacon served for 29 years in the United States Air Force, achieving the rank of Brigadier General. He commanded wings at Ramstein Air Base in Germany and Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. His congressional district encompasses the city of Omaha and the area surrounding Offutt Air Force Base.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1984: Interned in Washington D.C. Office

In 1984, Don Bacon interned in Representative Ed Madigan's Washington D.C. office during his senior year at Northern Illinois University.

1985: Entered the Air Force

In 1985, Don Bacon entered the Air Force, commissioning through the Air Force Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas.

2005: Release of Trump Videotape

In October 2016, after a 2005 videotape surfaced showing Donald Trump making lewd remarks, Don Bacon said that Trump could not win the presidency and should withdraw from the race.

2009: Europe's Top Air Force Wing Commander

In 2009, Don Bacon was selected as Europe's top Air Force Wing Commander.

July 2012: Director of ISR Strategy

From July 2012, Don Bacon served as the Air Force's Director of ISR Strategy, Plans, Doctrine and Force Development at the Pentagon.

2014: Retired from the Air Force

In 2014, Don Bacon retired from the U.S. Air Force after 29 years of service. He was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, two Legion of Merits, and two Bronze Star Medals.

October 2016: Bacon Criticized Trump

In October 2016, after a 2005 videotape surfaced showing Donald Trump making lewd remarks, Don Bacon said that Trump could not win the presidency and should withdraw from the race.

November 8, 2016: Defeated Ashford in General Election

On November 8, 2016, Don Bacon narrowly defeated Brad Ashford in the general election, becoming the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democrat in the 2016 House elections.

2016: Expressed Alarm Regarding Russian Interference

Don Bacon has expressed alarm regarding Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections and attempted Russian interference in other nations' elections.

2016: Won Republican Primary

In 2016, Don Bacon won the Republican primary for the U.S. House of Representatives in Nebraska's 2nd congressional district.

2016: Defeated Ashford in General Election

On November 8, 2016, Don Bacon narrowly defeated Brad Ashford in the general election, becoming the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democrat in the 2016 House elections.

January 2017: Sworn into 115th Congress

In January 2017, Don Bacon was sworn into the 115th Congress.

August 2017: Urged Trump to Preserve DACA

In August 2017, Bacon, along with five House colleagues, urged President Trump to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

October 2017: Stressed Importance of Military Readiness

At a Brookings Institution event in October 2017, Don Bacon stressed the importance of military readiness and called for increased flight hours for U.S. Air Force crews.

November 2017: Called for Elevated Electromagnetic Warfare Domain

In November 2017, Don Bacon told an electronic warfare conference that the U.S. military needed to elevate the electromagnetic spectrum to an official domain of warfare and re-intensify its EW capabilities.

2017: Reintroduced the Kerrie Orozco Act

In 2017, Bacon reintroduced the Kerrie Orozco Act, which aimed to expedite the citizenship process for spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty.

2017: House Agriculture Committee Member

In 2017, Don Bacon became a member of the House Agriculture Committee.

2017: Became U.S. Representative

In 2017, Don Bacon became the U.S. representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district.

2017: Member of Armed Services Committee

Since taking office in 2017, Don Bacon has been a member of the Armed Services Committee.

2018: Re-elected to House

In 2018, Don Bacon was re-elected to the House, narrowly defeating Kara Eastman.

2019: Introduced The Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2019

In 2019, Bacon and Representative Seth Moulton introduced The Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2019, which aimed to make lynching a federal crime.

2019: Response to Midwestern U.S. Floods

In 2019, Bacon urged the United States Army Corps of Engineers to streamline its response to the 2019 Midwestern U.S. floods and advocated for funding levies to reinforce flooded farmland and Offutt Air Force Base.

2019: Supported Taiwan

In 2019, Don Bacon visited Taiwan to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act.

2019: Voted Against Trump's Syria Policy

In 2019, Don Bacon voted for a resolution opposing Trump's move to withdraw U.S. support for the Kurds in Syria.

2020: Rejected Attempts to Overturn Election

In 2020, Don Bacon was one of 37 Republicans who rejected attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.

2020: Re-elected to House

In 2020, Don Bacon was re-elected to the House by a larger margin, even as Joe Biden won the district.

2020: Justice for Victims of Lynching Act Incorporated into Emmett Till Antilynching Act

In 2020, the language from The Justice for Victims of Lynching Act, which Bacon introduced, was incorporated into the Emmett Till Antilynching Act; the act passed the House but was blocked in the Senate.

2021: Introduced Legislation on Straw Purchases of Firearms

In 2021, Bacon introduced legislation aimed at enhancing penalties for illicit straw purchases of firearms.

April 2022: Sanctioned by Russia

In April 2022, the Russian Federation sanctioned and banned Don Bacon in retaliation for U.S. participation in sanctions against pro-war members of the Russian Duma.

2022: Willing to Work with Democrats

Following the 2022 midterm elections, Don Bacon announced his willingness to work with Democrats to elect a moderate Republican as House speaker.

2022: Won Re-election Against Vargas

In 2022, Don Bacon narrowly won re-election against Nebraska state senator Tony Vargas.

2022: Emmett Till Antilynching Act Becomes Law

In 2022, a version of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which incorporated language from a bill Bacon introduced, became law.

February 2023: Advocated for F-16s to Ukraine

In February 2023, Don Bacon signed a letter advocating for President Joe Biden to give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

October 1, 2023: Comment on Government Shutdown

Following failed House votes on bills to avoid a government shutdown beginning on October 1, 2023, Don Bacon criticized Republicans in the Freedom Caucus.

October 2023: Vote on Speaker of the House

In October 2023, Don Bacon voted against the removal of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. He supported Steve Scalise initially and later Mike Johnson for the role. He also revealed harassment towards his wife and staff.

November 2023: Supported Expulsion of George Santos

In November 2023, Don Bacon supported the expulsion of George Santos from Congress for fraud.

November 2024: Narrow Win Against Vargas

In November 2024, Don Bacon secured another narrow win in the general election, defeating Democratic challenger Tony Vargas.

2024: Narrow Win Against Vargas

In November 2024, Don Bacon secured another narrow win in the general election, defeating Democratic challenger Tony Vargas.

January 2025: Seated in 119th Congress

In January 2025, Don Bacon was seated in the 119th United States Congress.

February 2025: Described Trump-Zelenskyy Summit as a 'Bad Day'

Following the White House meeting between President Trump and Volodymir Zelenskyy in February 2025, Don Bacon described the summit as "a bad day for America's foreign policy" and criticized Trump's stance on Russia.

March 2025: Criticized Trump Administration

In March 2025, Don Bacon said the Trump administration needed "more discipline" after advisor Elon Musk's remarks towards Senator Mark Kelly and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.

June 2025: Bacon To Not Seek Re-election

In June 2025, it was reported that Don Bacon would not seek re-election in 2026 due to dysfunction in Washington, divisions in the Republican Party, and a desire to spend time with family.

2026: Bacon To Not Seek Re-election

In June 2025, it was reported that Don Bacon would not seek re-election in 2026 due to dysfunction in Washington, divisions in the Republican Party, and a desire to spend time with family.