Nebraska Gov. Jim Pilen (R) said Tuesday he would not call lawmakers into a special session to consider changing the state's election system to a winner-take-all system after key Republican lawmakers refused to switch their votes.
“My team and I have worked tirelessly to secure a filibuster-proof 33-vote majority to pass winner-take-all legislation before the November election,” Pillen said in a statement. “With everything at stake for Nebraska and our nation, we have done everything in our power to get this bill through the Senate.”
The governor, a Nebraska Republican, specifically pointed to Sen. Mike McDonnell, a Democrat-turned-Republican who announced Monday he wouldn't change his mind about overhauling the state's election system, noting that the governor doesn't have the votes needed to overcome a filibuster over such a move.
“Senator Mike McDonnell of Omaha has confirmed that he has no intention of voting winner-take-all before the 2024 election,” Pillen wrote. “This is deeply disappointing to me and many others who have worked diligently to ensure that every Nebraskan's vote is counted equally in this election.”
“Because we fell short of the 33 votes, we will not be calling a special session on this issue before the 2024 election,” he added. “I thank the many Nebraskans who have spoken out during this process.”
National and local Republican lawmakers have renewed their push in recent days to change Nebraska to a winner-take-all electoral system.
The Cornhusker State awards a total of five electoral votes, three of which are based on the candidate's performance in each district, one vote per district, and Nebraska awards two votes to the candidate who wins the state.
Republicans were trying to take away potential votes from Democrats in the 2nd Congressional District, which has repeatedly awarded electoral votes to Democratic presidential candidates.
In a scenario where VP Harris wins only the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, she would have 269 electoral votes, meaning a win in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District could bring her to 270 electoral votes.
But McDonnell reiterated in a statement on Monday that he remains opposed to passing the bill, leaving Republicans without the 33 votes needed to thwart a filibuster.
“I respect my colleagues' desire to have this discussion and have taken the time to listen carefully to both Nebraskans and national leaders on this issue,” McDonnell said. After careful consideration, it's clear that with 43 days until Election Day, now is not the time to make this change.
The move was also criticized by former President Trump, who supported the move. The real social platform: “Unfortunately, Democrat-turned-Republican(?) State Senator Mike McDonnell has decided, for no reason at all, to try and sabotage a great, common sense Republican victory. He's just a 'grandstander'!”
