Don Bacon

Don Bacon has represented Nebraska's 2nd congressional district since January 2017 and has built a reputation as one of the most credible national security voices in the House, backed by thirty years of Air Force service that included reaching the rank of Brigadier General. Born August 16, 1963, in Momence, Illinois, Bacon graduated from Wheaton College and earned multiple graduate degrees through his military career, retiring from the Air Force in 2014 before entering electoral politics. His military background — including command of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska — gives his national security positions a professional authority that most House members lack.

Bacon has been a consistent and knowledgeable pro-Israel vote and voice in Congress. His Air Force background gives him direct experience of the operational significance of the U.S.-Israel intelligence and technology-sharing relationship — the Israeli-developed technologies that have improved American airborne systems, the intelligence cooperation that has provided actionable information across multiple theaters, and the value of having an ally with direct combat experience against the adversaries American forces might face. He has opposed conditioning military aid to Israel, supported emergency supplemental assistance packages, and spoken publicly about Israel's right to self-defense in terms grounded in military doctrine rather than political rhetoric.

Nebraska's 2nd district (Omaha) is one of the most competitive congressional districts in the country, which means Bacon's pro-Israel position cannot be explained purely by constituency politics — he holds a seat that requires genuine electoral work every cycle. His re-election victories in a competitive district reinforce that his pro-Israel stance is a governing conviction rather than a safe political calculation. At Rank 55, Bacon represents the senior military officer turned legislator whose professional experience has produced a clear-eyed assessment of why Israel matters to American defense.