Nebraska’s Republican lawmaker said Monday that he opposes how the state is changing allocates its electoral votesIt effectively blocks a proposal by President Donald Trump and his allies to change the system for additional electoral votes this fall.
Trump allies have pushed for a special legislative session for the Republican-controlled Legislature to change Nebraska to a winner-take-all system instead of voting by congressional districts.
In a letter obtained by NBC News, state Sen. Mike McDonnell wrote: “After much thought, it is clear to me that now, 43 days after Election Day, is not the time to make this change.”
Nebraska GOP Sen. Loren Lippincott, who is sponsoring a bill to move the state to a winner-take-all system, noted Monday that McDonnell’s position means a special session to replace the legislation is not expected this fall.
In response to questions about McDonnell’s statement, Lippincott emailed NBC News a draft of his weekly article in local newspapers: “Governor Pillen didn’t want to call a special session without assurances from 33 senators that they would vote yes.” draft law. This attempt did not yield any results. There will be no special winner-take-all session. I will carry this bill again in the next legislative session.”
Lippincott said he hasn’t heard directly from Pillen via email, but expects the governor to weigh in later this week.
McDonnell represents the Omaha state Senate district and is reportedly running for Omaha mayor. A former Democrat, he In April, the party changedbecame a Republican after state Democrats denounced him.
The events appear to cap a months-long debate over whether Nebraska lawmakers could change the way the state distributes electoral votes in a way that benefits Trump.
Nebraska divides its electoral votes by congressional district, and the swing district around Omaha has gone to Democrats twice in recent years, giving them one electoral vote from the otherwise ruby-red state.
But if lawmakers change it to a winner-take-all model, Trump will be assured of winning all of Nebraska’s electoral votes.
And there is a plausible scenario that he could determine who will be the next president.
For example, if Vice President Kamala Harris was expected to win Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, but lose all other states.he and Trump would have tied for a winner-take-all Nebraska win with 269 Electoral College votes for Trump to win the state.
In that scenario, The race will be launched at the location of the US House Each state delegation would receive one vote for president. Republicans hold a majority of the delegation, and a majority of the House of Representatives favors keeping it, even though it could change hands after the November elections.
However, if Nebraska had not redistricted and Harris had won Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin but lost all other swing states, he would have won the presidential election by 270 electoral votes.
Nebraska Democrats applauded McDonnell’s announcement.
“Nebraska has a long and proud tradition of independence, and our election system reflects that by ensuring that the outcome of our elections represents the will of the people without interference,” said Jane Kleeb, chairwoman of the Nebraska Democratic Party.
“Senator McDonnell is standing firm in the face of tremendous pressure from out-of-state interests to preserve the voice of Nebraskans in our democracy. In this election and in future elections, Nebraskans will continue to lead the way by electing leaders at every level who defend, respect our people and honor our spirit of independence,” Kleeb said.
Last week, Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C. He met Pillen and about two dozen Republican legislators will discuss how the state allocates its electoral votesaccording to a source with direct knowledge of the visit.
Graham, who spoke on behalf of the Trump campaign, sought to encourage Pillay to call a special legislative session in which lawmakers could consider changes to the state’s apportionment. election votesa source told NBC News.
Supporters of the winner-take-all model need 33 votes in the state Senate to move forward with the amendment. Although the state’s unicameral legislature is technically nonpartisan, Republicans hold a 33-seat majority thanks to McDonnell’s recent party switch. But that narrow margin means Republicans won’t be able to move forward without him.
Pillen said that he has not yet received specific and public instructions regarding “33 [state] senators would vote for a winner-takes-all system.
State deputies They told the Nebraska Examiner last week estimated that the amendment had the support of 30 or 31 state senators, two or three votes short. McDonnell was one of them. State Senator Merv Riepe was thought to be another. The Washington Post reported on this last week that Riepe now supports a change to a winner-takes-all system.
The renewed interest in Nebraska’s Electoral College ballots comes months after Republicans attempted to make changes this spring. At that time, pressure campaign Pillen is endorsed by Trump and a pro-Trump influencer Charlie Kirk didn’t make it to the prossedural bases, because he did not have the support of enough senators to overcome a filibuster.
Since the state changed the way it apportions its Electoral College votes more than 30 years ago, lawmakers have repeatedly tried to revert to giving all of Nebraska’s votes to the statewide winner. An attempt to do so passed in 1995 but was vetoed by the governor. Another attempt in 2016 fell short by just one vote.
Maine is the only other state that does not have a winner-take-all system for electoral votes. But while Maine Democrats debate changing their system in response if Nebraska makes a change, For 2024, they seem to be running out of time to do the opposite.