Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
Jimmy Williams
Former President Donald Trump made a direct appeal to Nebraska lawmakers this week in an effort to change how the state allocates its electoral votes, a move aimed at limiting Vice President Kamala Harris’s path to winning the 2024 presidential election.
In a phone call on Wednesday, Trump spoke with Nebraska State Sen. Merv Riepe (R), urging him and other state lawmakers to support a shift to a statewide winner-take-all system. The change would prevent Harris from securing one electoral vote from the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District, which could help her reach the critical 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.
“I want the law changed. I’ve made no qualms about it,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who visited Nebraska alongside Trump ally Gov. Jim Pillen (R) to push for the change. Graham argued that the single electoral vote Nebraska awards by congressional district could make a decisive difference in a close election.
Currently, Nebraska and Maine are the only states that split their electoral votes by district, a system that has allowed Democrats to win one of Nebraska’s votes from the Omaha area, despite the state’s strong Republican lean. Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, could secure the presidency by winning her three strongest battleground states—Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania—along with that single electoral vote from Nebraska.
Nebraska Republicans, including Trump, Gov. Pillen, and the state’s congressional delegation, are pushing to revert to a winner-take-all system before the November election. However, passing the legislation requires overcoming a filibuster in the state’s unicameral legislature, which would need a supermajority of all 33 Republican senators to pass the change.
Graham stressed the significance of the move, saying, “It comes down to one electoral vote. I want you to understand what that one vote would mean.”
Political Battle in the Legislature
Despite efforts by Trump and his allies, key Republican lawmakers in Nebraska remain opposed to the change. State Sen. Mike McDonnell, a former Democrat who recently switched parties, has consistently expressed his opposition to the winner-take-all proposal.
“I’m not supporting winner-take-all,” McDonnell said earlier this year, a stance he reiterated during a luncheon with Graham and Pillen on Wednesday. The former firefighter and labor advocate is considered a potential candidate for mayor in Omaha next year, and his position reflects the political sensitivities in the state’s 2nd Congressional District.
Democratic lawmakers, such as State Sen. John Cavanaugh (D), are vocal in their opposition to the proposed change, warning that it could alienate Omaha voters and reduce their influence in the national election.
“The people of the 2nd District are excited to get out to vote, and they are offended by the prospect of out-of-state interests taking away the opportunity to have their voice heard,” Cavanaugh said.
Broader National Implications
If Nebraska were to switch to a winner-take-all system, it could lead to a 269-269 tie in the electoral college, sending the decision to the House of Representatives, where each state delegation would cast one vote for president. With Republicans holding a slight edge in state delegations, such a scenario would likely favor Trump.
Maine, the other state that awards electoral votes by district, has indicated that it might also consider changing to a winner-take-all system if Nebraska does, though time constraints make such a shift unlikely before the 2024 election.
The Harris campaign declined to comment on the situation, while Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, the potential electoral changes in Nebraska have raised the stakes in an already tense race for the White House, with both parties strategizing for every possible electoral advantage.
Graham emphasized the broader significance of Nebraska’s electoral vote in his meeting with state lawmakers, saying, “It’s not just about Nebraska—it’s international consequences.”
As the clock ticks toward Election Day, Nebraska’s Republican lawmakers face increasing pressure to decide whether they will support a change that could reshape the presidential race.
