Rep. Don Bacon said he is considering a 2028 presidential bid but would also be willing to serve as a running mate or senior supporter for a candidate who shares his values. Bacon criticized the politicization of federal agencies and called for renewed civility, fiscal responsibility and a balanced, "rational" approach to immigration. He cited Ronald Reagan's bipartisan interactions with Tip O'Neill as an example of the kind of leadership he wants to see. Bacon will leave Congress in January after representing Nebraska's 2nd District since 2017.
Rep. Don Bacon Signals 2028 White House Interest, Emphasizes Civility and Fiscal Responsibility
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., arrives for a House Republican conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on May 6, 2025.(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said he is seriously weighing a presidential bid for 2028 while also leaving open the possibility of serving as a running mate or senior adviser to a candidate who shares his values. Bacon, who will leave Congress in January after declining to seek reelection, made the comments on the "Our Republican Legacy" podcast in remarks first reported by The Hill.
What He Said
"I won't lie. Yes, I would love to," Bacon said, adding that he would also be "happy to be the right-hand man or left-hand man" to someone with similar priorities. A retired Air Force brigadier general who has represented Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District since 2017, Bacon said he wants to remain active in Republican politics whether as a candidate, running mate, or supporter.
"But in the end, I want our values to dominate in our party... I think our country needs people who are not using the FBI, the IRS to go after their adversaries... We want people to be respectful."
Bacon, a frequent critic of President Trump on foreign policy and national-security issues, invoked the bipartisan rapport between Ronald Reagan and former House Speaker Tip O'Neill as a model for civil leadership. "I think 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," he said.
Context and Priorities
His remarks come as Republicans begin to discuss a post-Trump leadership landscape. Names such as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have surfaced in conversations about who might lead the party in 2028; both have drawn praise from Mr. Trump even as the party has not coalesced around a successor.
Bacon emphasized a different set of priorities for the GOP: restoring civility in politics, addressing the national debt, and pursuing a "rational" immigration policy that balances border security with economic needs. He referenced Warren Harding's 1920 slogan "return to normalcy" to illustrate public appetite for steadier, more respectful leadership.
After announcing his retirement from Congress, Bacon told NBC News he would consider other opportunities to serve if an opening allowed him to make a unique difference.
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