Special Poll
A key Nebraska Republican, State Senator Mike McDonnell, announced his opposition to changing the state’s Electoral College system, which dealt a significant blow to the Republican efforts to make the shift.
Republicans had been pushing for a winner-takes-all Electoral College system in Nebraska, which could have impacted Vice President Harris’s chances of securing a critical electoral vote.
McDonnell, seen as pivotal in determining whether Republicans would move forward, stated that now is not the right time, just weeks before Election Day, to make changes to the system.
Republicans hoped this shift could potentially add an electoral vote to former President Trump’s tally, which could make a difference in a tight race.
McDonnell explained that after listening to the views of Nebraskans and leaders from both sides, he decided to maintain his long-standing position of opposing changes to the current system before the 2024 election.
The GOP’s plan revolved around preventing Harris from securing Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, a key electoral vote that could be decisive in the presidential election.
McDonnell also suggested that a constitutional amendment be considered next year for voters to decide on any changes to Nebraska’s Electoral College system.
Nebraska and Maine are the only states that split their electoral votes based on congressional district outcomes, and altering this system could have significant impacts on election results.
Efforts to overhaul the system in Nebraska had failed earlier in the year, but Republicans revived the push as Harris appears to be leading Trump going into November.
Governor Ron DeSantis and other Republican figures, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, reportedly participated in discussions to support the change, but McDonnell’s decision likely puts the effort to rest for now.
Democratic strategists viewed this as a relief, with some calling the Republican attempts to alter the system a desperate move to influence the outcome of the election.
This issue is not isolated to Nebraska; similar discussions have taken place in other states, like Georgia, where Trump-aligned officials have also been pushing for changes to election processes.
McDonnell’s opposition highlights the broader debate over how Electoral College votes are allocated and how such changes could influence future presidential elections.