Lincoln, Nebraska – Former President Donald Trump and his supporters are making a push for changes in the way Nebraska allocates its electoral college votes, highlighting the potential tightness of the race for 270 electoral votes in the upcoming rematch with President Joe Biden in November.
The proposed change aims to switch Nebraska from its current system of dividing electoral votes between statewide winners and winners of congressional districts to a winner-take-all allocation. This move gained momentum after influential Republicans started advocating for the shift, bringing national attention to the issue.
Leading the effort is conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who mobilized Nebraska Republicans through social media. Governor Jim Pillen, previously indifferent to the issue, now supports the change after backing from Trump and his allies.
Trump himself endorsed the switch on Truth Social, praising Gov. Pillen’s stance and urging Nebraskans to support the move back to a winner-take-all system, aligning with the majority of states and honoring the Founders’ intentions.
Despite little prior discussion on the matter during the legislative session, the sudden pressure campaign initiated by Trump’s allies caught Nebraska lawmakers off guard, stirring a debate about potentially attaching the winner-take-all measure to other legislation.
As lawmakers deliberate on the proposal, the political divide becomes apparent, with opposition arguing that existing rules provide equal opportunities for both parties to compete in Nebraska’s electoral process. The discussions also underscore the uniqueness of Nebraska’s current system, which is similar to Maine’s in dividing electoral votes by congressional district.
While the prospects for passing the proposed change are uncertain, the unfolding scenario reveals the challenges of introducing last-minute legislation in Nebraska’s unicameral legislature. Lawmakers must navigate procedural hurdles and potential filibusters as the debate unfolds in Lincoln.
With the legislative session drawing to a close, the fate of the electoral college bill remains undecided. Supporters vow to persist in their efforts to attach the measure to other unrelated bills, emphasizing the significance of Nebraska’s role in the electoral process.
As Nebraska grapples with the potential shift in its electoral system, the outcome of this debate could have implications not only for the state but also for the broader national political landscape in future elections.