Rep. Don Bacon fends off GOP hardliner to win Nebraska primary

Rep. Don Bacon won Nebraska's 2nd congressional District House primary Tuesday night, beating his far-right challenger, Omaha businessman Dan Frei, according to the Associated Press.

Bacon garnered a significant majority of the vote, winning a closely watched battle between Frei and himself after the state GOP party threw its support behind Frei, who said he would join the House Freedom Caucus if elected.

Vying for his fifth term in Congress, Bacon will go on to face Democratic state Sen. Tony Vargas, whom he beat by less than two points in 2022, in a race that is predicted to be even closer.

Bacon represents Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, which earned the nickname "blue dot" after President Joe Biden won it by over six points in 2020 after years of Republican wins. In one of the country's unpredictable voter bases, both Bacon and Vargas will have to appeal to moderate voters to secure a win.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rep. Don Bacon fends off GOP hardliner to win Nebraska primary