“Trump Allies Renew Efforts to Alter Nebraska’s Electoral College Law”
A key ally of Donald Trump is urging Nebraska Republicans to switch to a winner-takes-all system for awarding the state’s Electoral College votes, a move that could significantly aid Trump’s chances in the upcoming election. Nebraska and Maine are the only states that currently split their electoral votes by congressional district, with Nebraska’s unique allocation allowing one of its five votes to be competitive for Democrats.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) recently met with state GOP lawmakers to advocate for this rule change, which has garnered support from the state’s all-Republican congressional delegation and Governor Jim Pillen. Although the proposal was discussed earlier this year, it did not pass due to insufficient votes. However, with Trump in a close race against Democrat Kamala Harris, there is renewed urgency to revisit the issue.
“To my friends in Nebraska, that one electoral vote could be the difference between Harris being president and not, and she’s a disaster for Nebraska and the world,” Graham stated on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Despite months of calls from Trump’s allies for Nebraska Republicans to adopt this switch, the necessary legislative support has been lacking. With fewer than 50 days until the election and both candidates locked in a tight contest across key battlegrounds, the pressure is on.
A scenario has emerged where the outcome of the election could hinge on the voters in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, a swing district located in the Omaha area. If Harris secures wins in the traditionally Democratic states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, while Trump wins in the Sun Belt states of North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada, the Electoral College could split 269-268 in favor of Harris. In this case, Nebraska’s 2nd District could provide Harris with the critical 270th vote, or if Trump wins there, the election could result in a 269-269 tie, which would lead to a decision by the House of Representatives—an outcome that favors Trump.
The five Republicans representing Nebraska in Congress have formally urged their colleagues to support the law change, stating in a letter, “The state should speak with a united voice in presidential elections.” For any legislative adjustment to be made, Governor Pillen would need to call a special session of the legislature. He has indicated he would “enthusiastically” do so if he receives a “clear and public indication” that there are at least 33 votes in favor, the minimum needed to pass in Nebraska’s unicameral legislature.
Meanwhile, Nebraska Democrats have begun to display support for maintaining the current electoral vote split, utilizing yard signs that represent their district as a “blue dot” surrounded by Republican red.
“Nebraskans don’t need out-of-state interests to come in and tell us to change the way we’ve been doing things for decades—especially when ballots have already been sent out,” the Nebraska Democratic Party stated. “We are proud of the state senators who have been consistent and steadfast in standing up for Nebraskans having a voice in our electoral process.”
Trump’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
While Republicans hold 33 seats in the Nebraska Legislature, their support for the proposed change is not unanimous. State Senator Mike McDonnell, who recently switched parties, still represents a district with Democratic opposition and has yet to publicly commit to supporting the electoral vote change.
The debate over the electoral vote allocation system has been ongoing, particularly since Barack Obama became the first presidential candidate to secure one of Nebraska’s electoral votes in 2008. President Biden also captured the electoral vote from Nebraska’s 2nd District in 2020, further complicating Republican efforts to shift to a winner-takes-all system.
