by Aaron Sanderford, Nebraska Examiner
The Republican push to alter how Nebraska awards its Electoral School votes and enhance former President Donald Trump bumped into political actuality Monday as a key lawmaker, State Sen. Mike McDonnell, introduced he received’t help the change.
McDonnell, of Omaha, stated he had heard from individuals passionate in regards to the problem who reside within the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District. However he stated he didn’t hear sufficient to maneuver him off his authentic place towards the change.
“Elections should be an opportunity for all voters to be heard, no matter who they are, where they live, or what party they support,” McDonnell stated in an announcement. “I have taken time to listen carefully to Nebraskans and national leaders on both sides of the issue. After deep consideration, it is clear to me that right now, 43 days from Election Day, is not the moment to make this change.”
McDonnell stated he instructed Pillen his stance and prompt that the Legislature put winner-take-all to a vote of the individuals, as a proposed constitutional modification, so individuals can resolve the problem “once and for all.”
Nebraska and Maine are the one states that award a single Electoral School vote to the winner in every congressional district, plus two votes to the statewide winner of the presidential common vote. Nebraska has cut up off votes twice in 4 presidential elections.
President Joe Biden received the 2nd District in 2020. Trump received all 5 of the state’s electoral votes in 2016. Mitt Romney did the identical in 2012. The 2nd District obtained its nationwide identify as “the blue dot” in 2008, when former President Barack Obama received it.
2nd District cut up
Nebraska Republicans have argued for years that Nebraska ought to award all 5 of its electoral votes to the statewide winner of the presidential common vote, a course of many name winner-take-all.
Republicans maintain a 2-to-1 voter registration benefit over Democrats statewide, however the 2nd District cuts rather more evenly between Republicans, Democrats and registered nonpartisans, a cut up that makes the 2nd District aggressive in nationwide elections.
Gov. Jim Pillen had pledged to name a particular session if he might safe the 33 votes wanted to beat a filibuster to alter to winner-take-all. All 5 of Nebraska’s GOP congressional delegates wrote a letter urging state lawmakers to move such a transfer.
The Nebraska Legislature has 33 Republicans, 15 Democrats and one progressive who’s a registered nonpartisan.
Pillen’s workplace had no quick remark Monday, nor did the Trump or Harris campaigns.
McDonnell’s no on winner-take-all leaves Republicans in Nebraska’s formally nonpartisan Legislature with no path to overcoming a promised filibuster except a Democrat or nonpartisan senator defects. Up to now, none has opposed the established order.
A part of the GOP urgency is wrapped in nationwide polling that exhibits a detailed race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee. Some political observers have argued the 2nd District might break a 269-269 Electoral School tie.
Few Democrats had been stunned that the destiny of winner-take-all largely swung on McDonnell, a former Omaha fireplace union president who switched to the GOP this spring after dealing with political pushback from Democrats for backing abortion restrictions.
A number of stated the abortion debate ought to have proven Republicans that McDonnell is basically immovable as soon as he has made a controversial place clear. McDonnell stated when he switched events that he wouldn’t help winner-take-all. Others stated he did what helped him most politically.
McDonnell’s stance softened in latest weeks below stress from native, state and nationwide Republicans, together with some with ties to the Trump marketing campaign. He was considered one of two dozen GOP state senators who met Sept. 18 with Pillen and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
Either side heard from
Individuals within the room stated McDonnell instructed GOP colleagues final week he was on the lookout for a technique to get to sure. McDonnell instructed the Examiner on Thursday, not lengthy after the assembly dialogue grew to become public, that he remained a no on winner-take-all, “as of today.”
He saved assembly and speaking with individuals on each side of the problem, together with individuals tied to Trump, after that assertion. He additionally heard from nationwide and native Democrats tied to Harris.
However on Monday, McDonnell appeared to need to put the problem to relaxation. And with it, he might have secured another election the place a small slice of Nebraska will matter to each presidential campaigns.
Each Trump and Harris have marketing campaign employees in Nebraska, and each have despatched surrogates to marketing campaign right here. Harris’ working mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Nebraska native, held a rally right here. Trump’s working mate, Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, got here to Nebraska to fundraise and meet with native Republicans.
For McDonnell, the calculus could possibly be partly political. He has brazenly flirted with working for mayor of Omaha as early as 2025. His probably opponent, Republican incumbent Jean Stothert, has stated she helps the change to winner-take-all.
Statewide help leans towards winner-take-all, however polling over a number of years signifies broad, bipartisan help within the 2nd District for maintaining the state’s uncommon system, which brings consideration and cash to the Omaha space.
McDonnell’s assertion acknowledged the impression on the district.
“For Omaha … it brings tremendous national attention, is impactful on our local economy and forces Presidential candidates to make their case to all Nebraskans, instead of just flying over and disregarding us,” he stated.
Praised for ‘standing strong’
Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Social gathering, praised McDonnell for “standing strong against tremendous pressure from out-of-state interests to protect Nebraskans’ voice in our democracy.”
“Nebraska has a long and proud tradition of independence, and our electoral system reflects that by ensuring that the outcome of our elections truly represents the will of the people without interference,” Kleeb stated.
Kleeb additionally stated the social gathering would help leaders “who stand up for the people,” which some interpreted as a touch that the door could be cracked open for McDonnell to return or to safe some type of help from the social gathering if he runs for workplace sooner or later.
The Nebraska Republican Social gathering had no quick remark.
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