NE-02: Bacon (R)-Frei(R) race is latest front in populist-traditionalist GOP fight
OMAHA — People who led a populist revolt against the old Nebraska Republican Party and those who rose to power with the party’s previous leaders will be watching primary results Tuesday for clues about how much the party’s electorate has changed.
Polling, pundits and conventional political indicators, including fundraising and advertising, point to a likely win in the 2nd District House race by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. He faces former tea party and now populist challenger Dan Frei.
But like former Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford, D-Neb., whom Kara Eastman upset in the 2018 Democratic primary, Bacon faces an opponent from his party’s energized base. And some question how many of Bacon’s supporters will be motivated to vote.
The 2nd District race has drawn the most attention from leaders in the new state GOP and populist partners in online activism, because they saw Frei nearly upset then-U.S. Rep. Lee Terry in 2014, and they see Bacon’s race as their best chance.
https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/13/bacon-frei-race-is-latest-front-in-populist-traditionalist-gop-fight/