Election 2024: Omaha Democrat Ann Ashford endorses Republican Don Bacon
Wife of late Congressman Brad Ashford is also a former candidate for Nebraska’s ‘blue dot’
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Since the threat of changing Nebraska to a winner-take-all state has passed for this election, the state’s “blue dot” has been surfacing more and more in Omaha front yards.
It represents the possibility that Democrats, in a red state, could walk away with one electoral vote for Kamala Harris, even if they support the the Republican congressional candidate.
Mary Barrett is one of those people who will cast her ballot on along both party lines: “I’m a Bacon-Harris voter.”
The other side has been getting creative.
In the Dundee neighborhood, a homeowner has a red dot with Trump’s signature hair swoosh on it — only it’s been turned into Pacman, like the old video games. Pacman’s targets in this scenario? Those blue dots.
But in southwest Omaha, one homeowner shows a unique combination. They’re supporting Nebraska’s three Republican candidates to return to Capitol Hill — but not Trump.
“I’m a Democrat, and I’m a Bacon-Harris voter,” Ann Ashford said.
Ann is the widow of Brad Ashford — both prominent Omaha Democrats. Brad, who died two years ago, represented Nebraska Congressional Dist. 2 in the U.S. House before Republican Don Bacon beat him in 2016. Bacon has held the seat ever since, even earning a nod from his formal rival in 2020.
“I always felt it [my] relationship with her and her husband was based on respect,” Bacon said. “You have outside groups come in and try to do things, but our campaigns and how we treated each other was always based on decency and respect.”
6 News asked Bacon’s Democratic challenger Tony Vargas for a reaction to the endorsement.
“Don Bacon can’t cover up the fact that he votes again and again the way Donald Trump tells him to in an attempt to remain in office,” Vargas’ senior campaign advisor told 6 News.
Ann Ashford, who also ran for the 2nd District seat herself in 2020, is standing by her endorsement.
“The constituents are always more important than political parties,” Ashford said. “It’s vital to keep a level head and be the adult in the room.”
But Ashford emphasizes the fact that this endorsement isn’t about anything Tony Vargas has done. She says it’s more about common goals and how Don Bacon has a proven record of crossing the aisle for solutions.
Since 1992, the Nebraska Blue Dot has been earned twice in eight presidential elections; and both times, it was a split ticket, with the Democratic presidential candidate getting more votes in the district and the Republican congressional candidate winning the other race.
In 2008, Nebraska’s 2nd District went to Republican Lee Terry for Congress and Democrat Barack Obama for president. In 2020, voters chose Bacon for Congress and Democrat Joe Biden for president. The other six times were won by Republicans outright.
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