Washington — A Nebraska state senator mentioned he wouldn’t assist the Republican Occasion’s last-minute push to vary the allocation of Electoral Faculty votes within the state to winner-take-all, a transfer that will virtually definitely have benefited former President Donald Trump.
State Sen. Mike McDonnell, a Democrat-turned Republican from Omaha, mentioned Monday that he would oppose any change to the state’s system earlier than the November election.
“In current weeks, a dialog round whether or not to vary how we allocate our Electoral Faculty votes has returned to the forefront,” he mentioned in an announcement. “I respect the will of a few of my colleagues to have this dialogue, and I’ve taken time to hear fastidiously to Nebraskans and nationwide leaders on each side of the problem. After deep consideration, it’s clear to me that proper now, 43 days from Election Day, will not be the second to make this variation.”
In contrast to most states, Nebraska allocates its 5 electoral votes based mostly partially upon congressional districts. The winner in every of the state’s three congressional districts is awarded an electoral vote. The presidential candidate who wins the statewide poplar vote receives the remaining two.
However in current weeks, Republicans have pushed to make the state winner-take-all, which may deny Vice President Kamala Harris one electoral vote from Nebraska’s 2nd District, which incorporates Omaha. Whereas the remainder of the state is solidly Republican, the 2nd District is extra aggressive. President Biden gained it in 2020 and former President Barack Obama carried it in 2008.
McDonnell mentioned he instructed the state’s Republican governor, Jim Pillen, that there ought to as an alternative be an eventual vote on a constitutional modification to vary how Nebraska awards its Electoral Faculty votes.
“This November, Nebraskans could have the prospect to elect candidates at each stage who mirror their views, together with on this subject. That is the way it needs to be. Nebraska voters, not politicians of both get together, ought to have the ultimate say on how we decide a president,” he mentioned.
The governor mentioned earlier this month he would name a particular session if it was clear that he had sufficient votes to vary the legislation. McDonnell’s opposition means Republicans would come up brief except a Democrat or unbiased had been to defect.
contributed to this report.
