House Republican Considering 2028 Presidential Run

The Hill: Don Bacon (R-NE) says he’s mulling 2028 White House bid

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said he is considering a run for president in 2028 as he prepares to leave Congress next year.

Bacon, who has previously floated a bid for the White House, said in an interview to be…

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(@PollTracker2024) September 12, 2026

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The Nebraska Republican is set to leave Congress in January after choosing not to seek reelection in his contested swing district and has left the door open to potentially become someone’s running mate.

“I do definitely want to be on a team, whether I’m the lead or part of the team, fighting for these values for our country because I think the United States needs them and I think they’re looking for them,” he said.

Bacon said he would want the next Republican presidential nominee to emphasize decency and uphold Christian values.

“We need leadership that stands as an example of decency, humanity, and represents Christian values in the Gospels — how we’re supposed to act,” he said.

Bacon expressed his interest in a bid for the White House shortly after announcing his retirement last year.

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When asked if President Trump understands Americans’ economic pain after calling rising gas prices “OK” during remarks on Friday, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) says the president “makes light of the affordability question.”

“And we do have an affordability problem,” Bacon adds. “I think… pic.twitter.com/Gz0KBPbUWi

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) August 16, 2026

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Bacon’s comments come as Republicans increasingly turn their attention to the post-Trump era, with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio prominent in discussions about who could inherit the president’s MAGA coalition in 2028.

At this week’s Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Vance received chants of “48” from activists, while some Republicans openly discussed a possible Vance-Rubio ticket.

Trump has praised both men as potential successors, though no consensus has emerged within the party.

Trump privately told donors, “At the end of the day, we need to elect JD,” according to The Washington Post. Trump has continued publicly to praise both Vance and Rubio. Rubio previously said that if Vance runs, “he’s going to be our nominee” and that he would be among the first to support him.

The president has denied that the conversation took place.

Bacon offered a different emphasis for the party’s future, pointing to civility, fiscal policy, and immigration.

“Warren Harding, when he ran in 1920, his slogan was return to normalcy,” Bacon said.

“I think there’s a big yearning in American leadership that talks about respecting the other side of the aisle, not using lawfare, decency with our allies. I think people want to hear someone talking like that. I think we need it.”

“America’s best days do lay ahead if we have good leadership,” he added.

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