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Jimmy Williams
Nebraska state Senator Mike McDonnell has effectively blocked a Republican-led push to change the state’s electoral vote system ahead of the 2024 presidential election, dealing a significant blow to former President Donald Trump and his allies. The effort, which sought to switch Nebraska to a winner-take-all model, would have given Trump a significant advantage by securing all five of the state’s electoral votes, including the competitive Omaha-area district, which has been a Democratic stronghold in recent elections.
“After deep consideration, it is clear to me that right now, 43 days from Election Day, is not the moment to make this change,” McDonnell wrote in a letter obtained by NBC News on Monday. His opposition makes it nearly impossible for the proposed change to move forward, as Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature requires 33 votes to override a filibuster. Despite holding a narrow 33-seat Republican majority, the GOP’s efforts fell short due to McDonnell’s defection.
State Senator Loren Lippincott, who sponsored the bill, confirmed that McDonnell’s stance effectively shuts down any chance of a special legislative session to pass the change. “Governor [Jim] Pillen did not want to call a special session unless he had assurances from 33 senators they would vote yes on the bill,” Lippincott said in a statement. “That effort did not bear fruit.”
The proposed switch to a winner-take-all system was seen as a way to prevent Democrats from claiming the Omaha-area electoral vote, which has twice gone to Democratic candidates in recent elections. Nebraska is one of only two states, alongside Maine, that allocates electoral votes by congressional district, a system that Trump and his allies sought to change to boost his electoral prospects.
Trump took to Truth Social to criticize McDonnell’s decision, calling him a “Grandstander” and arguing that a winner-take-all system would have been “far less expensive” and advantageous for Republicans.
“It would have been better, and far less expensive, for everyone,” Trump posted, expressing his frustration with McDonnell’s decision.
The Omaha electoral vote could be pivotal in a close race. Under Nebraska’s current system, Vice President Kamala Harris could secure the single Omaha vote in a tight contest if she wins Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin while losing other swing states. This scenario would give Harris the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. A winner-take-all system, however, would have handed all of Nebraska’s votes to Trump, potentially forcing the race into the U.S. House of Representatives.
Nebraska Democrats lauded McDonnell’s announcement. Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, praised his decision, saying, “Nebraska has a long and proud tradition of independence, and our electoral system reflects that by ensuring that the outcome of our elections truly represents the will of the people without interference.”
The move marks a significant win for Democrats as they seek to maintain any advantage in battleground states. With McDonnell’s opposition, the effort to change Nebraska’s electoral vote system will likely have to wait until after the 2024 election.
