Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) mentioned Tuesday he wouldn’t be calling a particular session for lawmakers to consider changing the state’s electoral system to a winner-take-all one after a key GOP lawmaker rejected a bid to flip his vote.
“My group and I’ve labored relentlessly to safe a filibuster-proof 33-vote majority to get winner-take-all handed earlier than the November election,” Pillen mentioned in an announcement. “Given all the things at stake for Nebraska and our nation, we’ve got left each inch on the sector to get this executed.”
The Nebraska Republican singled out state Sen. Mike McDonnell — a Democrat-turned-Republican — who announced Monday that he wouldn’t be altering his thoughts about updating the state’s electoral system. The governor famous he didn’t have the needed votes to beat a filibuster over such a transfer.
“Senator Mike McDonnell of Omaha has confirmed he’s unwilling to vote for winner-takes-it-all earlier than the 2024 election,” Pillen wrote. “That’s profoundly disappointing to me and the numerous others who’ve labored so earnestly to make sure all Nebraskans’ votes are wanted equally this election.”
“Primarily based on the shortage of 33 votes, I’ve no plans to name a particular session on this challenge previous to the 2024 election,” he added. “I’m grateful to the numerous Nebraskans who made their voices heard throughout this course of.”
Nationwide and native Republicans alike in latest days had renewed a push to vary Nebraska to a winner-take-all system.
The Cornhusker State awards 5 electoral votes in complete, three of that are primarily based on candidates’ efficiency in every congressional district, providing one vote per district. Nebraska then awards two votes to whichever candidate wins the state.
Republicans had been trying to siphon a possible vote away from Democrats within the 2nd Congressional District, which has given Democratic presidential candidates an electoral vote a number of instances.
In a potential situation the place Vice President Harris wins solely the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, she would arrive at 269 votes — that means successful the 2nd Congressional District in Nebraska might put her at 270 votes.
However McDonnell reaffirmed in an announcement Monday that he was nonetheless in opposition to a transfer, leaving Republicans with out the 33 votes wanted to beat a filibuster.
“I respect the will of a few of my colleagues to have this dialogue, and I’ve taken time to pay attention fastidiously to Nebraskans and nationwide leaders on either side of the problem,” McDonnell mentioned. After deep consideration, it’s clear to me that proper now, 43 days from Election Day, is just not the second to make this modification.”
The transfer was also criticized by former President Trump, who had advocated for the transfer, saying on his Truth Social platform: “Sadly, a Democrat turned Republican(?) State Senator named Mike McDonnell determined, for no motive in any respect, to get in the best way of an excellent Republican, widespread sense, victory. Simply one other ‘Grandstander!’”
