Nebraska’s Republican governor is pushing for a “winner-take-all” system of awarding Electoral College votes in the state, aligning with 48 other states and reflecting the founders’ intent. Currently, Nebraska and Maine are the only states that split their electoral votes by congressional district. Efforts to switch to a winner-take-all system in both states have been met with challenges. In Nebraska, Republicans have been unable to force the state into a winner-take-all system since Barack Obama’s victory in 2008.
Maine also faces resistance from Republicans in changing its split system to join a multistate compact that would allocate all electoral votes to the national popular vote winner. The bill in Maine received final approval in the Senate but is on hold until other states approve the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Nebraska’s unique one-chamber Legislature has made it difficult for Republicans to change the current system, requiring 33 votes to pass any contested bill. Despite efforts by Gov. Jim Pillen, it seems unlikely that the winner-take-all bill will move forward this year due to time constraints.
Nebraska Democrats oppose the change to a winner-take-all system and urge residents to support the current split electoral vote system. Party chair Jane Kleeb emphasized the economic benefits of the state’s unique electoral system and highlighted previous failed attempts to undo the split electoral votes. With only six days left in the current legislative session, lawmakers acknowledge that there is not enough time to pass the bill through the necessary steps. Sen. Megan Hunt reassured the public that Nebraska will maintain its unique electoral system for now.
The switch of Omaha Sen. Mike McDonnell from Democrat to Republican adds to the challenges faced by Nebraska Republicans in changing the electoral vote system. McDonnell’s censure by the Nebraska Democratic Party for supporting abortion restrictions led to his party affiliation switch. Despite Gov. Pillen’s call to pass the winner-take-all change, Nebraska lawmakers are unlikely to have the time to advance the bill. Speaker of the Legislature Sen. John Arch and Sen. Tom Brewer, who chairs the committee where the bill sits, have not commented on their plans to push the bill forward this year. The future of Nebraska’s electoral vote system remains uncertain as the deadline approaches.
