Former President Donald Trump and his allies are putting pressure on Nebraska lawmakers to change the method of allocating electoral college votes, moving from a system that splits votes between statewide winners and winners of congressional districts to a winner-takes-all system. The push for this change comes as the race for 270 electoral votes in the November rematch with President Joe Biden is expected to be tight. Prominent Republicans, including conservative activist Charlie Kirk and Governor Jim Pillen, have shown support for the change, with Trump also endorsing it.
The Nebraska law that divides electoral votes by congressional district has not been a significant topic of discussion during the current legislative session, and was not a priority for Governor Pillen until Trump’s allies began a pressure campaign. The sudden move has caught Nebraska Republicans off guard, with the legislative session scheduled to end soon. Speaker of the Legislature, Sen. John Arch, indicated that the electoral college bill was not prioritized and remains in committee, suggesting it may not be acted upon this year.
Nebraska and Maine are the only states in the country that divide their electoral votes by congressional district, allowing for a split in electoral votes in the 2020 election. Despite the recent efforts to change the system in Nebraska, it has traditionally been challenging to push legislation through the state’s unicameral legislature at the last minute. Democrats have indicated they would mount a filibuster if the electoral college bill were pushed by Republicans, as it would disrupt the state’s unique electoral system that is beneficial for Nebraska.
With only a couple of days left in the legislative session, the future of the electoral college bill remains uncertain. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Loren Lippincott, had previously stated that the necessary votes to pass the proposal may not be there. Previous attempts by Republicans to repeal the current system have failed, with a proposal from 2023 stuck in committee due to insufficient support for a full vote. Despite the efforts to change the system, Nebraska Democrats have expressed pride in the state’s unique electoral vote system and its economic benefits.
The Biden campaign has been keeping an eye on Omaha and its one electoral vote, recognizing the potential significance of winning that vote as part of the overall strategy to reach 270 electoral votes. While there is talk of Biden’s blue wall in states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, winning all three may still leave him short of the necessary electoral votes. The changing demographics and populations of key states like Pennsylvania and Michigan make Nebraska’s three electoral votes potentially crucial in the case of a tie in the electoral college vote. The debate over changing the allocation of electoral college votes in Nebraska reflects the broader focus on winning crucial electoral votes in a closely contested election.
