Tony Vargas
Anthony Vargas is an American politician and former educator who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from 2017 to 2025. Vargas represented the 7th district, which covers all of downtown Omaha and much of southeastern Omaha.
Vargas ran for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in both 2022 and 2024, losing closely both times to incumbent Republican Don Bacon.
Early life and education
Vargas was born to Antonio and Lidia Vargas in Queens, New York City, who were originally from Peru. He has two older brothers He was raised in Smithtown, NY and graduated from Smithtown High School in 2002. He is a graduate of the University of Rochester and received a Master of Science in education from Pace University.Career
Vargas is a former public school teacher. He also served as an AmeriCorps fellow through Teach for America. He was appointed to the Omaha Public Schools Board in 2013, following the resignation of a board member.Nebraska Legislature
In 2016 he ran for the Legislature against incumbent senator Nicole Fox. Fox, a Republican, finished third in the nonpartisan primary, which saw Vargas and former senator John Synowiecki advance to the general election. Vargas defeated Synowiecki in the general election with nearly 62% of the vote. He was the first Hispanic Democrat elected to the Nebraska legislature.Committees
Vargas has served on the Appropriations Committee. In 2021, Vargas was re-elected to the position of vice chair of the executive board. He is on the Legislature's Planning Committee.COVID-19 pandemic
On July 29, 2020, Vargas attempted to suspend the Nebraska legislature's regular rules of order to introduce a bill that would enforce Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines in meatpacking plants to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The motion failed to pass.U.S. House campaigns
2022
In July 2021, Vargas announced his candidacy for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in the 2022 election. He won the Democratic primary on May 10, 2022, but lost the general election to Republican incumbent Don Bacon in November by 2.6%.2024
In July 2023, Vargas announced his candidacy for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in the 2024 election.Political positions
In February 2024, Vargas introduced Legislative Bill 1355. The bill would provide $4 million a year from the Nebraska Opioid Recovery Fund to fund opioid treatment and overdose response programs.In March 2024, Vargas and Senator Wendy DeBoer introduced two bills focused on housing affordability.
Vargas wants to codify abortion rights into federal law.
Vargas signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge.
Personal life
Vargas is Catholic and resides in South Omaha, Nebraska, with his wife, Lauren, who is a special education teacher. They moved to Nebraska in 2012 after she was accepted into Creighton University School of Law. They have two children.His father, Virgilio Antonio Vargas, died on April 29, 2020, from COVID-19 at the beginning of the global pandemic.