OMAHA, NEB. 鈥� During a cool evening in North Omaha, a known for hosting small weddings and baby showers was packed for a political kind of occasion.
Democratic, Republican and independent voters gathered for a bipartisan candidate forum that remained civil, if not entirely friendly.
鈥淭his is what should be happening 鈥� across the country,鈥� said Cynthia Douglas-Ybarra, a loyal Democrat who is part of . 鈥淲e might totally disagree, but we're not going to scream at each other or, shoot each other over it.鈥�
But the political stakes are high here in Nebraska鈥檚 2nd Congressional District. National Democrats have descended on the area increasingly known as the 鈥渂lue dot."
Unlike most states, . It鈥檚 become a focus point for Democrats hoping to pick up one Electoral College vote this year for Vice President Harris鈥� White House bid. That vote went to , and .
Now this region around Omaha has become a political thorn in the GOP's side. It's put new pressure on incumbent Republican Congressman Don Bacon facing off against Nebraska state Sen. Tony Vargas.
National Republicans have traveled here to try to shift the state to a more common Electoral College winner-take-all model 鈥� .
And national Democrats are leading in both and . All of that focus is having a major impact on down ballot Republicans like Bacon and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, who's facing .
A moderate Republican running under pressure from Democrats and his own party
Bacon, the four-term U.S. House member seeking reelection, is part of of moderate Republicans on Capitol Hill as his party moves further right.
His race may give Omaha voters a say, on a national scale, to keep that wing of the GOP alive or help send it into political extinction.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 ironic I had a primary where I was not MAGA enough, now I鈥檓 too MAGA,鈥� Bacon told NPR.
In May, Bacon defeated , who argued .
Last year, Bacon after he refused to support efforts led by hard-right members, including a failed push last year by . And in 2022, .
This year, Bacon . However, he later to Trump鈥檚 re-election campaign, and .
Bacon has had success in the past as a moderate, but , and an could all favor his Democratic opponent.
鈥淚t finally caught up to him and we鈥檙e making sure everyone knows between now and Election Day,鈥� Vargas said.
Vargas hopes draw new support from voters of color to become the state鈥檚 first Latino in Congress.
So for his part, Bacon is pitching his bipartisan record to independent voters. That includes work he did to bring billion-dollar infrastructure projects to Omaha, that includes joining to pass Biden's 2021 infrastructure law and , a top area employer.
鈥淚 think the harder to reach ones, they want to see that and they want to know I鈥檓 not a partisan guy first,鈥� Bacon said. "In the end, I want to do what鈥檚 right for our country and I think that message works."
Bacon leans into his military background as a retired who once served at Offutt. He's also highlighting his work on the House Armed Services Committee and .
Democrats have energy and spending power
But Vargas insists the momentum and issues are on his party鈥檚 side.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a top race because people are showing up and are taking responsibility for democracy and to fire Don Bacon,鈥� Vargas said.
From his downtown Omaha campaign office, Vargas hosted a roundtable with Katherine Clark, the House Democratic whip, to spotlight the loss of access to reproductive rights, a top voter issue.
Clark told NPR that down ballot Democrats are buoyed by a national fight over electoral votes and new momentum for Harris.
鈥淰ice President Harris is doing well here,鈥� Clark said. "It is also helping our congressional candidate.鈥�
This, as Nebraska saw a population boom statewide driven by Latinos. From 2022 to 2023, .
Vargas said he believes that will translate into a voter demographic he has personally cornered in his district, including an influx of outreach through bilingual mailers, radio and television ads.
Wooing voters in the political center
Back at the candidate forum, Bacon is using his time at the mic to first highlight his support from Democrats. That includes Ann Ashford, a prominent local Democrat who is attending the forum.
"I thank you for doing that," Bacon told Ashford, who once ran against him and lost and is now for her former political nemesis.
"I'm going to be doing everything I can to campaign for him between now and the final Election Day," Ashford told reporters of the endorsement.
Cynthia Douglas-Ybarra, the loyal Democrat, had an extended chat with Bacon. She says the two run into each other often at events as both are former military veterans, and they're friendly.
But Bacon鈥檚 bipartisan talk didn't sway her.
"No, he is not getting my vote. Hell no. No!鈥� she says between laughs. 鈥淗e's a Republican. He's a Trump Republican!"
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