On December 16, 2015, Ashford endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. He faced no opposition in the Democratic primary. Although The Cook Political Report had predicted that Nebraska's 2nd congressional district would lean Democratic and Ashford had received more funding than his opponent Ashford narrowly lost to Republican nominee Don Bacon. Ashford was the first incumbent representative in the 2nd congressional district to lose reelection after one term in office since Eugene D. O'Sullivan in the 1950 election. During his victory speech Bacon praised Ashford as "an honorable man" and stated that he cried during Ashford's concession speech.