Bacon Says Midterm Losses Could Spark GOP Debate Over MAGA
Retiring Rep. Don Bacon said on November 1 that Republican losses in Tuesday’s midterms could prompt an internal debate over the MAGA movement. The Nebraska Republican said the party needs that discussion, after CNN host Jake Tapper asked whether major House or Senate losses could mark the movement’s decline.
Bacon pointed to President Donald Trump’s tariff policies as a liability, saying they have hurt Republicans in competitive Midwestern areas. He described tariffs as a tax on consumers and argued the party should return to free-trade principles associated with Milton Friedman and the Eisenhower and Reagan eras. Bacon has repeatedly opposed Trump’s import taxes and was among a group of six House Republicans who cast a February vote to repeal tariffs on Canada.
The Supreme Court later ruled Trump had exceeded his executive authority in imposing the sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs. Bacon, who has represented an Omaha-area swing district since 2017, said in June he would not run for another term. Democrat Denise Powell is now favored to win the seat.
Asked about a possible 2028 presidential run, Bacon said he did not want the discussion to be about him and noted that James Garfield was the last House member to move directly to the White House. Tapper said Bacon had not given a yes-or-no answer. Bacon said in September that he would like to run for president.
Bacon’s Warning Puts Trump’s Tariffs at Center of GOP Debate
Republican losses in Tuesday’s midterms could trigger a party reckoning over MAGA, retiring Rep. Don Bacon said on November 1. His warning points to the political cost of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which Bacon says burden consumers and leave Republicans vulnerable in competitive Midwestern districts.
Bacon called tariffs a tax on consumers and urged Republicans to return to free-trade principles associated with Milton Friedman and the Eisenhower and Reagan eras. He was part of a group of six House Republicans who cast a February vote to repeal Trump’s tariffs on Canada. The Supreme Court later ruled Trump had exceeded his executive authority in imposing the sweeping “Liberation Day” levies.
The debate Bacon says the party needs is about whether Republicans will stick with Trump’s trade approach or return to a free-trade tradition. His own district, in the Omaha area, is a swing seat, and Democrat Denise Powell is favored to flip it. In June, Bacon said he would not run for another term.
Asked about a possible 2028 presidential run, Bacon declined to make the interview about himself and cited James Garfield as the last House member to move directly to the White House. Tapper said he had not answered yes or no. Bacon said in September that he would like to run.
Bacon’s Midterm Warning Risks Turning GOP Debate Against Trump
Retiring Rep. Don Bacon is urging Republicans to use potential midterm losses to revisit the MAGA movement and President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. On November 1, he said the party needs an internal debate if it loses ground in Tuesday’s elections.
Bacon blamed tariffs for putting Republicans in a difficult position in competitive Midwestern areas, calling them a tax on consumers. He advocated a return to free-trade principles associated with Milton Friedman and the Eisenhower and Reagan eras. He was part of a group of six House Republicans who cast a February vote to repeal Trump’s tariffs on Canada, and the Supreme Court later ruled Trump exceeded his executive authority in imposing the sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs.
His comments make tariffs a test of the party’s direction, even as Republicans face the possibility of losses in the House or Senate. Bacon has represented an Omaha-area swing district since 2017, but said in June he would not run for another term; Democrat Denise Powell is favored to take the seat.
Bacon also declined to make a CNN discussion of a possible 2028 presidential bid about himself, citing James Garfield as the last House member to go directly to the White House. Host Jake Tapper called the answer a dodge. Bacon said in September that he would like to run for president.
Reported by CNN, New York Post.
