The Nebraska state lawmaker at the forefront of discussions about changing the state’s Electoral College system has firmly stated he will oppose any alterations ahead of the 2024 election. State Senator Mike McDonnell declared, “I will not change my long-held position and will oppose any attempted changes to our electoral college system before the 2024 election.”
In a statement made on Monday, McDonnell urged Governor Jim Pillen and his colleagues in the Unicameral to pursue a constitutional amendment next year, allowing Nebraskans to decide the issue through a ballot measure.
Nebraska, alongside Maine, allows for split ballots in the Electoral College if a candidate secures the popular vote in a congressional district. Notably, the state’s 2nd Congressional District has leaned Democratic in several recent presidential elections.
Modifications to how Nebraska assigns its five electoral votes could significantly impact campaign strategies leading up to the election. Candidates require a total of 270 electoral votes to secure the presidency. For Vice President Kamala Harris, winning the electoral vote from the 2nd Congressional District could pave her path to victory, even if she lost other battleground states.
Without that crucial electoral vote, Harris’s lead would shift from a 270-268 advantage to a 268-268 tie with former President Trump, transferring the decision to the House of Representatives, where each state delegation casts one vote. Given the expected Republican majority in state delegations, the odds of Trump being chosen would increase significantly.
Trump and his supporters had pushed for Republican Governor Pillen to call a special session to revise the state’s voting system. This campaign included a recent lobbying visit from Senator Lindsey Graham.
Pillen previously mentioned he would consider calling such a session if he believed he had the necessary votes. However, McDonnell’s refusal to support changes suggests that this outcome may not be achievable.
In response to McDonnell’s announcement, Trump expressed disappointment, calling the state senator a “grandstander” and questioning his commitment following his party switch from Democrat to Republican.
