Trump Ally Pushes for Changes in Nebraska Electoral Voting System

One of Donald Trump’s close allies is leading an effort to convince Nebraska Republicans to change the way their state’s Electoral College votes are allocated. This late-stage rule change could potentially impact the outcome of the upcoming election and help Trump secure another term in the White House.

Nebraska and Maine are the only two states that distribute their electoral votes by congressional district, rather than using a winner-takes-all approach. In Nebraska, this means that one of the state’s five votes could be up for grabs by Democrats.

Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina recently met with GOP lawmakers in Nebraska to advocate for this change, which is supported by the state’s all-Republican congressional delegation and Governor Jim Pillen. The proposal had been discussed earlier this year but did not have enough support to pass. However, with Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in a close race where every electoral vote counts, his supporters are making another push.

Trump’s allies have been urging Nebraska Republicans to make this switch for months, despite facing resistance in the state legislature. But as the election draws near and the race tightens, the pressure to make this change has intensified.

There is a scenario where the election could hinge on Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, a swing district in the Omaha area. If Harris wins key battleground states in the blue wall, while Trump wins battlegrounds in the Sun Belt, it could lead to a split electoral college vote favoring Harris.

Nebraska’s 2nd District, which voted for Biden in the previous election, could be the deciding factor in this year’s election. The five Republican members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation have sent a letter urging their state colleagues to unite in presidential elections.

Any legislative change would require Governor Pillen to call for a special session, and he has expressed willingness to do so if there is clear support from 33 lawmakers, the minimum needed for passage in Nebraska’s legislature.

Nebraska Democrats have shown their support for the state’s electoral vote split, emphasizing the importance of their role in the metro Omaha district as a Democratic stronghold within a predominantly Republican state.

Despite Republican control in the legislature, there is not unanimous support for this change. State Senator Mike McDonald, who recently switched parties, may face backlash for backing this electoral college switch.

The current electoral voting system has posed challenges for Republicans since Barack Obama secured one of Nebraska’s electoral votes in 2008. Biden was the only other Democrat to win Nebraska’s 2nd District vote in 2020.

It remains to be seen whether Nebraska will make this significant change to its electoral voting system, but the implications could have a significant impact on the outcome of the upcoming election.