Tony Vargas
NE-02Last updated August 20th, 2024 at 5:22pm GMT.
Voters in NE-02 will be reminded of Don Bacon’s military service and specific accomplishments while in office. Voters will also hear of Don Bacon’s strong support of law enforcement including his legislation increasing penalties for criminals who attack police officers. Voters will also hear that Bacon has fought to pass the strongest border security bill in decades, has secured 744 million dollars in federal funds to repair and rebuild Offutt Air Force Base, and secured over $3 million for historic improvement to Omaha’s Eppley Airfield.
| Voter Registration Deadline | 10/25/24 |
| AB/EV Window Opens | Applications can be received 7/08/24 |
| Ballots Drop | September 30th (UOCAVA 9/20) |
| AB Application Deadline | October 25 |
| Early Voting in person begins | October 7 and ends November 4th |
| Ballots due by | Close of polls November 5th |
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Early Release for Violent Criminals
2
Increase Income Taxes
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Increasing Nursing Home Fees
B-roll of Vargas nodding his head
SOURCE: (2022 Indigenous Peoples Summit, Omaha, NE, 8/25/22)(NRCC YouTube)
Pelosi:
VIDEO: Shortly after Nancy Pelosi addresses the crowd, Tony Vargas takes the stage and says “Thank you so much, Speaker.”
SOURCE: (Jan Schakowsky, Facebook Live, Clipped beginning at 1:00:15, 5/20/22)
Inflation:
VIDEO: Vargas claims he wants to “make sure we’re reducing costs and getting spending under control.”
SOURCE: (Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District Debate, 10/13/22)
Vargas on the economy: “Inflation and rising costs are hitting everybody”
SOURCE: (Tony Vargas, Twitter, 9/6/22)(NRCC YouTube)
Vargas: “We need to really tackle inflation”
SOURCE: (KETV NewsWatch 7, Clipped, 8/27/22)(NRCC YouTube)
Pay Raise:
Coverage of Tony Vargas’ 2018 bill to double lawmaker pay
SOURCE: (KSNB, Aired: 4/9/22)(NRCC YouTube)
Public Safety:
Local coverage of the Omaha Police Officers’ Association criticizing Vargas’ “false, irresponsible, and dangerous” remarks
SOURCE: (KETV NewsWatch 7, “Omaha senator calls out law enforcement, OPOA responds,” YouTube, 6/2/20)(NRCC YouTube)
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- Don Bacon is a strong supporter of law enforcement and has introduced legislation that increases penalties for criminals who attack police officers and provides new tools for officers to protect themselves so they can focus on keeping our communities safe.
- Don Bacon fought to pass the strongest border security bill in decades which stops the flow of illegal immigrants and fentanyl across our southern border, resumes construction of the border wall, increases the number of border patrol agents to combat drug smuggling and human trafficking, and fixes our broken asylum system.
- Don Bacon co-sponsored legislation that requires ICE to detain illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes and make our communities less safe.
Raised on a farm in the Midwest, Don worked his way through college and graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Political Science Degree in 1984. He also married his college sweetheart, Angie, in 1984. He later earned Master’s Degrees from University of Phoenix and National War College.
Don joined the Air Force in 1985 and served for 29.5 years, retiring as a Brigadier General. He served in the intelligence, electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and public affairs career fields and had 16 assignments all over the world. He commanded twice at the wing level, to include at Ramstein Air Base in Germany and Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. He also commanded one group, one squadron, and one expeditionary squadron. He deployed four times during his career to the Middle East to include commanding an electronic warfare squadron during the invasion of Iraq and a year-long tour to Baghdad during the surge in 2007-2008.
He won multiple awards during his time in the Air Force including the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, two Legion of Merits, and two Bronze Stars. He was selected as Europe’s top Air Force Wing Commander (along with Angie as commander’s spouse) in 2009. He was a Distinguished Graduate in his Air and Command Staff College, Navigator School, and Intelligence School.
Don has also worked as a Congressional Military Advisor focusing on Offutt Air Force Base and Nebraska National Guard, and was an Assistant Professor at Bellevue University teaching Undergraduate Leadership courses and American Vision and Values (The Kirkpatrick Signature Series).
Don resides in Papillion with Angie, his wife of over 38 years. They have four children and six grandchildren.
Vargas joined a violent mob in Omaha that vandalized businesses and attacked police officers:
Vargas assaulting cab driver:
Vargas refuses to support Israel:
Income tax hike:
- Nebraska Public Media: “Public Votes on Committee Chairs Rejected; Income Tax Hike Heard”
- Omaha World-Herald: “Income tax hike for millionaires gets lukewarm reception from some Nebraska lawmakers”
- Lincoln Journal Star: Bill would hike taxes for highest-income Nebraskans, increase revenue”
- The Washington Free Beacon: Meet the Nebraska Lawmaker Gunning To Make His State Income Tax One of the Most Punishing
Crime:
- Omaha World-Herald: Nebraska lawmakers approve ‘micro-TIF’ for homeowners, earlier parole eligibility
More expensive homes:
- Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City: “Nebraska Home Prices Surging Amid Strong Demand and Limited Supply”
- KETV NewsWatch 7: “‘It’s disheartening’: First time homebuyers face growing challenges in hot housing market”
Repeatedly opposed lowering taxes:
- Omaha World-Herald: “Nebraska Farm Bureau endorses Ricketts’ tax plan, but it won’t give up on petition drive”
- Tri-State Livestock News: “Nebraska ag producers pay nearly 50 percent more than the national average in property taxes”