Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) is considering a potential 2028 presidential campaign, saying he plans to promote his political agenda across the country and determine whether there is enough public interest to justify a run.

Bacon said Tuesday that he is not announcing a presidential campaign but intends to use an upcoming speech at the National Press Club to outline his vision for the country. He indicated that he would prefer another candidate to embrace his ideas but has not ruled out running himself.

"If Americans like this message and I'm going to test it out, I'm going to go out there all over the country, want to get this message and a sense of demand for it. Nobody else is stepping up. I'm an American patriot. But, you know, I want our country to succeed," Bacon said.

The Nebraska Republican identified the national debt, immigration, health care and national security as major issues he wants the next generation of American leadership to address. He argued that Washington has become too focused on partisan battles instead of confronting long-term challenges facing the country.

Bacon said he would welcome another politician taking up his agenda, but acknowledged that he and his wife are prepared to become the ones to carry it forward if no one else does. He described his position on a presidential bid as "not a no, but that's not a yes."

The potential campaign comes as Bacon prepares to leave Congress after deciding not to seek reelection to Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. He was first elected in 2016 and has served five terms. Democrat Denise Powell won the seat in the 2026 election and is scheduled to take office in January.

Bacon acknowledged that running for president as a sitting or former House member would be an unusual path, noting that the last sitting House member elected president was James Garfield in 1880.