LINCOLN — U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., and his Democratic challenger, State Sen. Tony Vargas, spent much of Tuesday evening trading barbs in a debate over “lies,” civility, criminal justice and character.

Bacon, who is seeking his fifth congressional term serving Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, repeatedly chastised Vargas for “baloney” and a “bunch of platitudes but no meat behind him.”

Vargas, who challenged Bacon in 2022, as well, repeatedly linked Bacon to former President Donald Trump and said Bacon’s constituents couldn’t afford to reelect Bacon.

“Don’t listen to Tony, the guy is deceptive, he’s not being honest. He’ll do anything to win election,” Bacon said.

Said Vargas: “Staying in power sounds like it’s more important to you than it is standing up for democracy and the independence of our district.”

The two candidates addressed about 10 questions in an hourlong debate sponsored by Nebraska Public Media at its Lincoln studio in partnership with the Nebraska Examiner, Lincoln Journal Star, Omaha World-Herald and KRVN Rural Radio Network. No live audience was present.

Aaron Sanderford, the Nebraska Examiner’s political reporter, moderated the debate, with a panel of three journalists: Kassidy Arena (Nebraska Public Media), Erin Bamer (Omaha World-Herald) and Dave Schroeder (KRVN).

Abortion

Bacon and Vargas differed on major topics, including abortion, where Bacon said he supports Nebraska’s current 12-week ban on abortion tied to gestational age, which was passed in 2023, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. Bacon said he would defend that law.

Vargas criticized Bacon for co-sponsoring national legislation that Vargas said would have banned abortion nationally with no carve-outs for in vitro fertilization. The legislation would have recognized a fertilized egg as a person with equal protections under the 14th Amendment. Vargas said the issue ultimately comes down to a woman’s “right to choose.”

“This is a decision that politicians, especially Don Bacon, should have absolutely no say in telling them what they can and cannot do with their bodies,” Vargas said.

Bacon criticized Vargas as “deceptive” because the legislation he supported never mentioned “abortion.” Bacon did not sign on to a 2023 version of the law he had previously joined.

“At what point, Tony, does that unborn child deserve a sense of humanity?” Bacon said. “I would think a science teacher for two years would know that.”

Bacon said that abortion is “ranked very low” among priorities when he talks to voters and that Vargas is “trying to create an issue that does not belong.” 

Bacon told reporters after the debate that Congress will likely never address abortion, unless Democrats win the presidency, control of both chambers of Congress and get rid of the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the U.S. Senate.

“That should be a warning sign because with that 60-vote threshold we are forced to be more bipartisan in whatever we get passed,” Bacon said.

Vargas pointed to his daughter, who he said has fewer rights than his wife did, and urged Congress to restore Roe v. Wade, which set certain constitutional protections for abortion instead of a patchwork of different state laws since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned that opinion in 2022.

Israel and Ukraine

The two candidates did find agreement on foreign aid, with both stating the United States needed to remain a good ally to Ukraine and Israel, in good times and bad, and not risk war spreading to surrounding regions.

Bacon touted his military background in the U.S. Air Force and said antisemitism “is not being an American” and is “antithetical to what we support.”

Both said they stand with Israel and said the war should end on Israel’s terms, with the eradication of Hamas terrorists and the release of all hostages. 

Asked if any limits should be placed on humanitarian aid to Israel, for Palestinian citizens or citizens in Lebanon, each candidate said no.

“I understand that the Palestinian people are hurting, but the most important thing to me is that this end to the war happens on the terms for Israel,” Vargas said.

Added Bacon: “The fault lies with Hamas.… Israel has the obligation to try to target just Hamas, or just Hezbollah in Lebanon, but when they’re hiding amongst the people, it is very hard.… If we were attacked, and we were on 9/11 in a similar way, we would go in and try to destroy Hamas and Gaza.”

Public safety and immigration

A large portion of the debate honed in on gun violence, public safety and criminal justice, with Bacon criticizing Vargas’ record in the Nebraska Legislature that the congressman said made his district less safe, such as legislation for early parole for certain inmates.

Bacon said he supports “due process” when it comes to reducing gun violence and suggested cracking down on “straw” purchases, in which someone purchases a gun for someone who shouldn’t be able to buy a gun.

Vargas said after the debate that any legislation that passes the Legislature, where Republicans hold a supermajority of seats in the officially nonpartisan body, needs Republican support. Vargas said the bigger concern is who would actually fight for public safety and vote for bipartisan border safety and gun violence legislation, which Bacon had opposed.

Vargas and Bacon each said the border needs to be addressed but disagreed on how.

Bacon said the administration under President Joe Biden can act now but hasn’t and said he supports a pathway to permanent “legal status” for some immigrants who came to the United States illegally, but not for criminals, and no pathway to citizenship.

Vargas, whose parents are immigrants, said something must be done to secure the border, stop fentanyl and prevent human trafficking in order to support the American dream. Vargas said Democrats are willing to compromise, and he blamed Republicans for inaction.

2nd District independence

Vargas and Bacon each told reporters that, if elected this fall, each would be an independent voice for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, which is composed of Douglas County, Saunders County and rural Sarpy County.

Vargas said his eight years on the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee showed him the importance of passing a lean, balanced budget that invests in needed priorities, including law enforcement.

As an example where he disagrees with Democrats, Vargas said he opposes widespread student loan forgiveness that doesn’t benefit all Nebraskans.

“We need somebody that will have real independence when it matters, a problem solver when it actually matters the most,” Vargas told reporters. “I think that’s the reason why we bring up Donald Trump because he is on the ballot and was really proud of his endorsement of Don Bacon.”

Vargas said he appreciates Nebraska’s current process for distributing Electoral College votes, two for the popular vote winner and one for the winner of each of the state’s three congressional districts. 

Bacon said he wishes all states followed Nebraska’s model but joined on to a letter last month with Nebraska’s other four Republican members of Congress urging the Legislature to move to “winner take all,” in which the statewide winner would receive all five votes.

Only Nebraska and Maine have the district system, Bacon said, criticizing the model as a Democratic “cash cow” that helps Vargas and other Democratic candidates. 

Vargas said it’s about the independence of the district and criticized Bacon for trying to change the system so close to the election. Vargas said Trump’s endorsement of Bacon came shortly after Bacon endorsed the switch to winner take all, which didn’t have enough legislative support.

Bacon told reporters he has faced Trump’s hostility for voting for the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill, for the certification of the 2020 election and saying Biden won and supporting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) for young undocumented immigrants.

“I’ve done my own thing that I think is right for the country,” Bacon said after the debate. “The fact that he [Trump] called and still wanted to make peace. I think he knows that, in reality, it doesn’t help him to be at odds with the folks in this district.”