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The Republican Party’s efforts to lock down all of Nebraska’s electoral votes for former President Trump may very well be jeopardized after a state lawmaker refused to throw his assist behind an initiative to alter how the state allocates its electoral votes.
Nebraska state Sen. Mike McDonnell, a former Democrat from Omaha who switched his party to Republican this 12 months, issued an announcement Monday about his opposition to awarding that state’s 5 electoral votes as a winner-take-all, like 48 different states at present do.
Maine and Nebraska are the one two states that give two electoral votes to the candidate who wins statewide and one to the winner in every congressional district.
“Elections must be a possibility for all voters to be heard, irrespective of who they’re, the place they reside, or what party they assist,” McDonnell’s assertion learn. “For a long time, Nebraska has tried to reside as much as that preferrred by allocating our electoral school votes in a approach that offers all Nebraskans an equal voice in selecting our President. For Omaha, the town I really like and have known as dwelling for 58 years, it brings super nationwide consideration, is impactful on our native economic system and forces Presidential candidates to make their case to all Nebraskans, as an alternative of simply flying over and disregarding us.”
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The senator continued, saying over the previous weeks, there had been conversations about whether or not to alter how the electoral school may very well be allotted.
While McDonnell stated he respects the need a few of his colleagues have on the difficulty, he has taken time to take heed to his constituents and nationwide leaders on either side of the difficulty.
“After deep consideration, it’s clear to me that proper now, 43 days from Election Day, will not be the second to make this variation,” he wrote. “I’ve notified Governor Pillen that I can’t change my long-held place and can oppose any tried modifications to our electoral school system earlier than the 2024 election.”
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McDonnell additionally stated he inspired the governor, and can encourage his colleagues, to go an modification subsequent 12 months that offers the individuals of Nebraska the possibility to resolve on how the electoral school votes are allotted on the poll.
“This November, Nebraskans could have the possibility to elect candidates at each stage who replicate their views, together with on this situation,” McDonnell wrote. “That’s the way it must be. Nebraska voters, not politicians of both party, ought to have the ultimate say on how we decide a president.”
The senator’s resolution means Republicans wouldn’t have the two-thirds majority they would wish in Nebraska to drag off a change earlier than the Nov. 5 election.
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A Nebraska senator stated he opposes modifications to the electoral school votes that may enable Republicans to lock down all 5 votes for Trump. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Nebraska is one in all 9 states that Republican candidates have carried in each presidential election since 1964. It additionally has not had a winner-take-all rule in place since 1991, and most instances since then, Republican candidates have captured the entire state’s votes.
But in 2020, President Biden captured the vote for the Second Congressional District in Omaha. Former President Obama did the identical factor in 2008.
In order to lock down the presidency, a candidate must win 270 of the 538 electoral votes.
In one state of affairs, Democratic Presidential Candidate Vice President Kamala Harris would win the battlegrounds of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, whereas Trump wins the opposite 4 battleground states of North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. In that case, Harris would accumulate 269 electoral votes to Trump’s 268 — which incorporates 4 from Nebraska.
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The Associated Press reported that in that state of affairs, a Trump victory in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District would create a tie of 269-269, throwing the ultimate resolution to the U.S. House of Representatives. At that time, every state would have one vote, a state of affairs that may seemingly favor Trump. But, if Harris carried the district, she could be president.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
