Bacon and Vargas show stark differences in second first debate
OMAHA — The first debate of the second race between Democratic state Sen. Tony Vargas and Republican Rep. Don Bacon was more lively than the previous campaign between the candidates. Clearer lines are drawn.
The two candidates attacked each other’s positions on abortion, immigration, guns and moral issues during an hour-long debate on Friday hosted by the League of Women Voters and the Omaha Press Club. The debate was broadcast on WOWT.
Abortion front and center
Omaha Sen. Tony Vargas debates U.S. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska in the 2nd District debate on Friday. (Aaron Sandford/Nebraska Examiner)
As in 2022, Vargas emphasized his support for reproductive rights and Bacon defended his belief that new life is worth protecting.
But on Friday, neither man made any concessions to his opponents to add nuance or explain the subtleties of their positions on abortion access, restrictions or exceptions.
Bacon defended his position, saying he has long supported exceptions to any federal or state abortion bans to protect the mother’s life if it is at risk due to complicated pregnancies.
He said he supports Nebraska’s ballot measure that protects women and children because of “reasonable restrictions” and “exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother.”
Current Nebraska law prohibits abortion after 12 weeks of gestation. A ballot measure to protect women and children, Initiative Measure 434, would ban abortion after the first trimester of pregnancy, with exceptions.
Vargas pulled no punches, emphasizing that the proposed constitutional amendment Bacon co-sponsored would ban abortion nationwide, with no exceptions in the language.
“He co-sponsored sweeping abortion bans … three times, with no exceptions for the mother’s life, rape or incest. There were no exceptions for IVF,” Vargas said.
Vargas said he supports a ballot measure proposed by Protect Our Rights Initiative 439 that would codify the right to abortion in Nebraska until “the fetus is viable,” as defined by the treating health care provider ).
The current scientific standard for survival is approximately 22-24 weeks of gestation. Bacon and others argue that language creates opportunities for abortion later in pregnancy.
“He’s been asked for years what restrictions he would support,” Bacon said. “There are only seven countries in the world… where abortion on demand is available before birth. That’s where this man stands.
Vargas said he does not support “abortion on demand” and has said so before. He said his stance on the issue was driven by concerns that his daughter would have fewer rights than his wife.
Immigration remains a hot topic
As with the previous campaign, Bacon said Vargas and any Democrats who support the Biden administration’s approach to immigration and border security have lost the trust of voters on the issue.
U.S. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska speaks during a debate with Omaha Sen. Tony Vargas at the Omaha Press Club on Friday. (Aaron Sandford/Nebraska Examiner)
Bacon said Democrats did not take seriously the importance of stopping illegal immigration and argued that former President Donald Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” approach was effective.
The policy requires U.S. asylum applicants to wait weeks, months or even years in Mexico until their cases are heard in U.S. immigration courts.
“We need to have a ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy that is subject to human rights scrutiny … but we cannot have the president do that arbitrarily without the consent of the House of Representatives.”
Vargas criticized Bacon and other Republicans for vetoing a bipartisan border security bill introduced by Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford at Trump’s urging.
Many Republicans and Democrats say Lankford’s bill is the closest Congress has come to passing changes in a generation. Among other things, it includes more funding for border enforcement and immigration courts.
Vargas called this “the most ineffective Congress… in our generation” and said Nebraskans deserve members of Congress who will “solve problems” rather than listen to Trump.
Although Bacon has endorsed Trump three times, he said he spoke out when Trump deserved it, drawing criticism and primary challenges from Trump.
Gun restrictions and criminal justice reform
On the gun issue, Vargas said Bacon and House Republicans appear to be more interested in protecting gun owners and the National Rifle Association than protecting people in the community and police officers.
WOWT’s Brian Mastre moderates the midday debate from the Omaha Press Club. (Aaron Sandford/Nebraska Examiner)
Vargas said he supports “common-sense gun safety legislation,” including expanded background checks, red flag laws and efforts to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.
“A majority of Nebraskans and Americans would also support common-sense gun safety legislation,” Vargas said. “Members of Congress…voted against a bipartisan solution.”
Bacon said he supports the Second Amendment and would extend prison time for violent offenders. He criticized Vargas’ support for criminal justice reform in the Legislature.
Bacon said law enforcement officials told him Vargas supported a state law that made it more difficult to jail violent juvenile offenders, making the Omaha area less safe.
He said changes in the law forced police to arrest the same young people multiple times and led to more crime.
“The best way to control guns is to put violent people in jail,” Bacon said. “Don’t let them get out early…” The best thing we can do is make sure people serve their time.
Vargas and other supporters of Legislative Bill 50 believe the change is needed to give children caught up in gangs and crime a better chance at recovery.
Vargas emphasized his support for the Legislature’s $37 million in law enforcement funding as evidence of his interest in public safety and a balanced approach.
Bacon pointed to Tony Conner, the former leader of the Omaha Police Officers Association and president of the Fraternal Order of Police, and said police and prosecutors supported him.
Moral battles become personal
On ethics issues, the two candidates have sparred over the role of outside funding in 2nd District campaigns, which typically spend millions on outside advertising.
Both criticized the tendency of outside groups to distort the truth of their records in advertising. The pair also said their campaigns will not stop amplifying their opponents’ votes and decisions.
Omaha State Sen. Tony Vargas greets people before the debate at the Omaha Press Club. (Aaron Sandford/Nebraska Examiner)
Bacon highlighted a Washington Examiner article accusing some swing state House candidates and former candidates, including Vargas, of participating in midterm scholarship programs.
He questioned why Vargas accepted a $60,000 interracial scholarship from a dark money group aligned with Democratic donor and attorney Marc Elias.
An outside group has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission about Elias’ group and scholarship, but election lawyers say the complaint is unlikely to succeed. The Washington Examiner report cited a Federal Election Commission complaint saying the scholarships were targeted at candidates who were in between campaigns or who needed time to recover and recharge after recent campaigns.
According to the report, the candidate is Anticipated research policy stanceconsider political strategy and weigh how to better connect public policy to people’s needs.
Vargas accused Bacon of taking orders from dark money groups behind the FEC complaint, saying those who wanted to defeat him were “trying to make something out of nothing.”
He criticized Bacon’s ProPublica report that said his office acted unethically by helping Trump media executives get visa help after an old friend called him.
The group reported that a local Republican asked Bacon’s office to help Vladimir Novachki of North Macedonia, who helped build the backbone of Trump’s Truth social platform.
one staff told ProPublica She felt pressure from her bosses to speed up the approval process for applicants aligned with Trump. Bacon said he provides such visa work to hundreds of people seeking help, not just political allies.
funding talk
Vargas said Bacon’s corporate donors and special interests have huge influence on how he governs, and said Americans “need to get money out of politics.”
U.S. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska talks to his tablemates before a debate at the Omaha Press Club. (Aaron Sandford/Nebraska Examiner)
Vargas said he would like to see people organize to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United, which essentially made campaign spending a free speech right.
Bacon said he understood people’s concerns about increased campaign spending since Citizens United, but said he respected people’s right to express their opinions.
Federal campaign finance filings show Bacon has raised more than $4.3 million and has $2.2 million in campaign cash on hand.
Vargas has raised $3.5 million and has $2.5 million in cash on hand.
Additionally, outside groups spent nearly $8 million on the race, according to OpenSecrets.org, which monitors congressional campaign finance.
National interest in the swing district race is high because it is one of about a dozen politically divided districts.
Another reason, as Bacon pointed out during the debate, is the national interest in the presidential race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
But, he said, Republican candidates are facing an uphill battle, with Democrats spending tens of millions of dollars on advertising and lobbying in the 2nd District to help Harris while Republicans spend very little in the district — — hundreds of thousands of dollars — to help Harris.
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