(Rightallegiance.com) – A key Nebraska Republican state lawmaker, Mike McDonnell, has come out against a push to change how the state allocates its electoral votes. McDonnell, who represents an Omaha-area district and recently switched from Democrat to Republican, has blocked an effort to shift Nebraska to a winner-take-all system for the upcoming election. This move was championed by former President Donald Trump and his allies, who sought the change in a bid to secure an extra electoral vote from the swing district around Omaha.
Nebraska, unlike most states, currently awards its electoral votes by congressional district. This method has allowed Democrats to occasionally win one of Nebraska’s electoral votes, particularly from the Omaha area. Had the proposed winner-take-all system been in place, all of the state’s electoral votes would have likely gone to Trump, possibly influencing the outcome of the 2024 election.
The current electoral vote split could mean the difference in a close race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, should Harris secure key swing states while losing others.
McDonnell’s opposition means there will be no special legislative session to consider the change this year. Nebraska state Sen. Loren Lippincott, who sponsored the bill to move to a winner-take-all system, expressed disappointment but vowed to reintroduce the bill in the next legislative session.
In his op-ed for local newspapers, Lippincott explained that Governor Jim Pillen had not called a special session because he lacked assurances that 33 senators would support the measure, which is the number needed to avoid a filibuster.
Trump’s allies had put significant pressure on Nebraska legislators to adopt the new system, even sending Sen. Lindsey Graham to meet with state leaders to encourage the shift. Despite this effort, McDonnell’s stance and the support of only 30 to 31 senators has prevented the proposal from moving forward.
Nebraska Democrats have praised McDonnell’s decision. Nebraska Democratic Party chair Jane Kleeb emphasized that the state’s electoral system reflects the will of the people and that McDonnell is standing firm against outside pressure. Republicans have long sought to change the way Nebraska apportions its electoral votes, and while this effort has failed this time, it may return in future legislative sessions.
This latest push comes after a failed attempt in the spring to pass similar legislation, supported by Governor Pillen and pro-Trump figure Charlie Kirk. Past efforts to revert to a winner-take-all system in Nebraska have been met with similar outcomes, including a governor’s veto in 1995 and falling just one vote short in 2016.
The significance of the Omaha swing district has heightened interest in Nebraska’s electoral votes, as it could play a decisive role in a tight election. Under the current system, Harris could potentially secure the presidency by winning the Omaha district along with key states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, while a winner-take-all system could have handed those crucial votes to Trump.
Maine is the only other state that allocates its electoral votes similarly to Nebraska. Though there have been discussions among Maine Democrats about changing their system in response, no action is expected before the 2024 election.