Nebraska GOP Senator Opposes Electoral College Reform : NPR

The Nebraska state senator central to the debate over a possible switch to a winner-takes-all system for the state’s Electoral College votes declared his opposition to any such changes before the 2024 election. In a statement on Monday, State Sen. Mike McDonnell affirmed his stance, stating, “I have notified Governor [Jim] Pillen that I will not change my long-held position and will oppose any attempted changes to our electoral college system before the 2024 election.” He also encouraged the proposal of a constitutional amendment in the next legislative session to let the citizens of Nebraska decide the issue via ballot.

Nebraska, along with Maine, currently permits split ballots if a candidate wins the popular vote in a congressional district. The state’s 2nd Congressional District, often referred to as the “blue dot,” has recently favored Democratic candidates in presidential elections.

Any revisions in how Nebraska distributes its five electoral votes could significantly impact the campaign’s final weeks. Presidential candidates need 270 electoral votes to secure the White House. For Vice President Harris, capturing the electoral vote from the 2nd Congressional District could help her achieve the required 270 votes if she also wins Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Without this vote, Harris’s advantage would decrease from 270-268 to a potential 268-268 tie with former President Trump. In such a scenario, the House of Representatives would decide the next president, with each state’s delegation casting one vote. Given Republicans are expected to control more state delegations, this could favor Trump.

Former President Trump and his supporters had hoped to persuade Republican Governor Pillen to convene a special session for altering the state’s voting method. Efforts included a recent visit by Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who lobbied Nebraska lawmakers for the change.

Governor Pillen previously indicated that he would pursue the change if the votes were secured. However, McDonnell’s recent statement implies that the necessary support is lacking. Following McDonnell’s announcement, Trump expressed his discontent on his Truth Social platform, criticizing McDonnell for obstructing what he described as a “great Republican, common sense, victory.”