Former President Trump criticized Nebraska state Sen. Mike McDonnell (R) for popping out in opposition to Republicans’ renewed push to vary Nebraska’s electoral system to a winner-take-all state.
“I wish to thank Governor Jim Pillen of Nebraska for making an attempt to assist the Republican Celebration simplify the complexity of the State’s Electoral Map. It could have been higher, and much cheaper, for everybody!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Monday.
“Sadly, a Democrat turned Republican(?) State Senator named Mike McDonnell determined, for no cause in any way, to get in the best way of a fantastic Republican, widespread sense, victory,” he continued. “Simply one other ‘Grandstander!’”
McDonnell delivered a blow to Republicans earlier Monday when he issued an announcement saying he wouldn’t assist a change to the best way Nebraska awards its electoral votes — coming a minimum of every week after Trump and native Republicans renewed their push for the system.
“In current weeks, a dialog round whether or not to vary how we allocate our electoral faculty votes has returned to the forefront,” McDonnell stated in an announcement. “I respect the will of a few of my colleagues to have this dialogue, and I’ve taken time to pay attention rigorously to Nebraskans and nationwide leaders on each side of the problem. After deep consideration, it’s clear to me that proper now, 43 days from Election Day, shouldn’t be the second to make this variation.”
Nebraska and Maine each award their electoral votes based mostly on every candidate’s efficiency in every congressional district, awarding one vote per district. All of them award two extra electoral votes based mostly on whichever candidate wins the state.
Although the push amongst Republicans to vary Nebraska’s electoral system shouldn’t be new, the last-minute renewed effort may have difficult Vice President Harris’s path to 270 electoral votes simply weeks earlier than the election.
If Harris solely received Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, whereas dropping the opposite battleground states, she would arrive at 269 votes — a state of affairs wherein Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District would show essential on her path to 270.
But McDonnell’s determination to reject the last-minute push amongst Republicans means the social gathering lacks the 33 wanted votes to beat a filibuster on the transfer.
