Washington — Nebraska’s Republican Gov. Jim Pillen stated Tuesday he wouldn’t name a particular session to alter how the state awards Electoral School votes earlier than the November election.
It is a setback for former President Donald Trump, who was all however sure to profit underneath a winner-take-all allocation.
“My workforce and I’ve labored relentlessly to safe a filibuster-proof 33-vote majority to get winner-take-all handed earlier than the November election,” Pillen stated in an announcement. “Sadly, we couldn’t persuade 33 state senators.”
State Sen. Mike McDonnell, a Democrat-turned-Republican from Omaha, introduced his opposition to the transfer on Monday, which meant Republicans would come up quick until a Democrat or impartial have been to defect.
“In current weeks, a dialog round whether or not to alter how we allocate our Electoral School votes has returned to the forefront,” he stated in an announcement. “I respect the need 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, isn’t the second to make this transformation.”
Nebraska allocates three of its 5 electoral votes based mostly on the winner in every of the state’s three congressional districts. The presidential candidate who wins the statewide widespread vote receives the remaining two.
Republicans have just lately sought to alter the system to winner-take-all, which might have denied Vice President Kamala Harris one electoral vote from Nebraska’s 2nd District. The district, which incorporates Omaha, is extra aggressive than the remainder of the state, which is solidly Republican. President Biden received the district in 2020 and former President Barack Obama carried it in 2008.
McDonnell proposed having an eventual vote on a constitutional modification to alter the how the state awards its Electoral School votes.
Pillen stated McDonnell’s resolution was “profoundly disappointing.”