Nebraska Rejects Trump’s Bid to Alter State’s Electoral Vote Allocation

On September 24, UPI reported that Nebraska’s Republican Governor Jim Pillen has announced that he will not convene a special session of the state legislature to modify how Nebraska allocates its electoral votes. This decision serves as a setback for former President Donald Trump and his allies, who had been advocating for a change in the electoral voting system.

Governor Pillen explained that the lack of support among state senators, particularly the inability to garner 33 votes, is the reason for his decision. He noted that State Senator Mike McDonnell, who recently switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, has staunchly opposed any changes to the electoral voting system so close to the upcoming election.

The current system allows Nebraska to allocate three of its five presidential electoral votes to the candidate who wins each of its three congressional districts. Trump’s camp has been pushing for a “winner-take-all” system, where the candidate receiving the most votes in the state would claim all five electoral votes.

Senator McDonnell has emerged as a key figure in the opposition, being one of the crucial votes preventing the shift to a winner-take-all system. He expressed concern that changing the electoral vote allocation this close to the election—just 40 days away—would be inappropriate.

“Based on the lack of 33 votes, I have no plans to call a special session on this issue prior to the 2024 election,” Governor Pillen stated. The governor’s administration had actively sought to secure the necessary support but ultimately could not achieve a filibuster-proof majority in the state’s unicameral legislature.

McDonnell, in a recent interview, emphasized that the debate surrounding the modification of Nebraska’s electoral vote distribution has been ongoing since 2017. He highlighted the long-term implications of such a change and reiterated his position against it coming so close to the election.

Trump, however, did not hold back his criticism of McDonnell. He referred to the senator as a “grandstander” on social media, expressing frustration over the lack of cooperation from Republican lawmakers and suggesting that McDonnell’s actions were detrimental to the party’s goals.

In the 2020 presidential election, President Joe Biden won the 2nd congressional district in Omaha, gaining one electoral vote by defeating Trump by a margin of seven points. This has led McDonnell to assert the importance of candidates working to earn votes in Nebraska, citing the necessity for Trump to engage with voters following his loss in the 2nd district.

“You’ve got to work for our vote,” McDonnell insisted, stating that voters should ultimately have the power to determine how electoral votes are awarded. He proposed that this critical question should be presented directly to the electorate through a ballot.

In reaction to the political climate, Trump also expressed his disapproval of McDonnell’s stance, labeling him as an obstructionist who is hindering the Republican agenda in Nebraska.

While the GOP has prioritized a return to a winner-take-all electoral vote system since the existing model was implemented in 1991, Democrats have been making significant inroads in television expenditures. Recent data indicates that Democrats have spent over $6 million on advertising, vastly outpacing the Republicans’ $170,000 in the state.

Republican Representative Don Bacon, who represents the competitive 2nd congressional district, has echoed doubts about the likelihood of implementing a winner-take-all system before the November election. He pointed out that stronger campaign discipline and a focus on key issues would significantly benefit Trump in the district.

With the political landscape in Nebraska heating up and the presidential election fast approaching, the future of the state’s electoral voting method remains uncertain, as discussions will likely continue past the upcoming election.