Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), who is retiring from Congress at the end of his fifth term, has confirmed he is actively considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028.
Speaking on the “Our Republican Legacy” podcast, Bacon said, “I won’t lie. Yes, I would love to. But I would also be happy to be the right-hand man or left-hand man to someone else that has the same values.”
Bacon has represented Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes Omaha and surrounding rural areas, since first taking office in 2017 following a nearly three-decade career in the Air Force.
The 61-year-old congressman cited his Christian faith as a cornerstone of the values he would bring to a presidential campaign, emphasizing decency and principled leadership.
“We need leadership that stands as an example of decency, humanity and represents Christian values in the Gospels — how we’re supposed to act, the golden rule and things like that,” Bacon said during the podcast interview.
Chris Vance, executive director of Our Republican Legacy and a co-host of the podcast, welcomed Bacon’s comments, expressing confidence that a lane exists for a traditional conservative candidate in the next presidential 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 told the Washington Examiner, adding, “We believe there’s absolutely a lane in 2028 for a traditional Republican like Don Bacon.”
Bacon acknowledged a presidential bid would be an uphill challenge, particularly given his background as a House member who still embraces Reaganism and a hawkish approach to foreign policy.
He also floated a potential interest in serving as Defense Secretary, saying he would consider the role “if God opens up that door,” though he expressed doubt that a Republican president would appoint him to the position.
Bacon is one of a small number of sitting House Republicans who have been publicly willing to criticize President Donald Trump, a stance that has made him a notable and occasionally isolated figure on Capitol Hill.
In 2024, Bacon was among just three Republicans elected in districts that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris over President Trump, underscoring the competitive nature of his Nebraska swing district.
When Bacon announced his retirement last year, he cited time with his family as the primary motivation for stepping away from elected office after this term concludes.
The emerging 2028 Republican presidential field already includes Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who has recently signaled interest in the primary, while Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are widely considered frontrunners, though neither has formally declared their intentions.
“I’d love to continue to serve this great country, but not in Congress after this term is over,” Bacon said in a statement, leaving his future ambitions deliberately open-ended.
