Democrats have found new reason for hope that Nebraska, despite its traditional Republican lean, will bring their party closer to returning to power in Washington. This mini series, The New Nebraska: Democrats eye up historic shift, explores the dynamics giving rise to that hope. In Part 1, we interviewed retiring Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), a Republican giving up his seat in Nebraska's blue-trending 2nd District.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) has a simple explanation for how he survived five terms in one of the hardest-fought House districts in the country for Republicans .

In an interview with the Washington Examiner, he credited his success to a “killer instinct” and the willingness to outwork his Democratic competitors.

“On a scale of 0 to 100 of wanting to win, I was at 100,” Bacon said.

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