The Republican Party in Nebraska is attempting to secure all of the state’s electoral votes for former President Trump by changing how the votes are allocated. State Senator Mike McDonnell, a former Democrat who recently switched to the Republican Party, has refused to support this initiative. McDonnell believes that elections should give all voters a voice and that Nebraska’s current system ensures that all Nebraskans have an equal say in choosing the President. He has decided not to change the electoral college allocation system before the 2024 election.
McDonnell has listened to his constituents and national leaders on both sides of the issue and believes that the people of Nebraska should have the final say on how electoral college votes are allocated. He has encouraged Governor Pillen and his colleagues to pass an amendment that will allow Nebraska voters to decide on this issue through a ballot initiative. Republicans do not have the two-thirds majority they need in Nebraska to make changes before the upcoming election, thanks to McDonnell’s stance.
Former President Trump has criticized McDonnell for getting in the way of the Republican Party’s efforts to secure all of Nebraska’s electoral votes. Trump expressed his preference for a winner-take-all allocation of the votes and indicated that he may need to campaign in Omaha again. Nebraska has been carried by Republican candidates in every presidential election since 1964, but in 2020, President Biden won the Second Congressional District in Omaha. This district could play a crucial role in the 2024 election if a tie in the electoral vote occurs.
If a scenario plays out where Vice President Kamala Harris wins battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, and Trump wins states like North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada, the electoral vote count could end up in a tie. In this scenario, Nebraska’s Second Congressional District could potentially decide the outcome of the election. If Trump wins this district, it would create a tie of 269-269, leading to a decision by the U.S. House of Representatives where each state would have one vote. This situation would likely favor Trump, but if Harris carries the district, she would become President. The outcome of the 2024 election in Nebraska could have significant implications for the entire country.
