State Sen. Mike McDonald dampens Republican hopes for Nebraska

LINCOLN — A Republican push to change the way Nebraska awards its electoral votes and boost former President Donald Trump ran into political reality Monday when state Sen. Mike McDonnell announced he would not Support this change.

McDonald, of Omaha, said he hears passion about the issue from people who live in Omaha’s 2nd Congressional District. But he said he didn’t hear enough to move him from his position against the switch.

“Elections should be an opportunity for all voters to have their voices heard, no matter who they are, where they live, or which political party they support,” McDonald said in a statement. “I took the time to listen carefully to Nebraskans and State leaders are on both sides of this issue. After much reflection, it is clear to me that with 43 days until Election Day, now is not the time to make this change.

McDonald said he made his position known to Gov. Jim Pillen and suggested the Legislature put the winner-take-all approach to a people’s vote as a proposed constitutional amendment so the people could decide the issue “once and for all.” .

Nebraska and Maine are the only two states that award one Electoral College vote to the winner of each congressional district and two votes to the winner of the statewide presidential popular vote. Nebraska has split the vote twice in four presidential elections.

Trump talks to Nebraska senator at winner-take-all meeting in Pillen

President Joe Biden won the 2nd District in 2020. Former President Barack named the second district “Blue Point.”

Second district split

Nebraska Republicans have argued for years that Nebraska should award all five electoral votes to the winner of the statewide presidential popular vote, a process that many have dubbed “winner-take-all.”

Republicans hold a 2-to-1 voter registration advantage over Democrats statewide, but the 2nd District’s vote is much more evenly split between Republicans, Democrats and registered independents, a split that makes the 2nd District the largest in the nation. Be competitive in elections.

Pillen promised to call a special session if he could get the 33 votes needed to overcome the filibuster and change the winner-take-all situation. All five of Nebraska’s Republican congressional representatives wrote a letter urging state lawmakers to pass the measure.

The Nebraska Legislature has 33 Republicans, 15 Democrats and one progressive who is registered as an independent. People who voted for Pillen and the Trump campaign told others that if McDonough did so, they expected remaining Republican diehards to join in pushing for change.

Pillen’s office had no immediate comment Monday, nor were the Trump or Harris campaigns.

Trump weighed in on his social media site “Truth Social” on Monday, thanking Pillen for trying. Trump blasted McDonough as a “Democrat turned Republican(?)” and said McDonough had hindered “the great victory of Republican common sense.”

“I love Omaha and won it in 2016. Looks like I have to do it again!!!”

McDonald’s opposition to winner-take-all would make it impossible for Republicans in Nebraska’s officially nonpartisan Legislature to overcome a promised filibuster unless Democratic or independent senators defect. So far, no one is opposing the status quo. Nebraska Democrats tweeted a list of 17 people who had pledged not to vote, including McDonald.

The winner-take-all push has help from Gov. Jim Pillen, Sen. Lindsey Graham and Trump

The Republican urgency is reflected in part in national polls that show a close race between Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, the vice president. Some political observers believe the 2nd District could break the 269-269 tie in the Electoral College.

To the surprise of few Democrats, the winner-take-all fate largely fell on McDonough. Legislation for certain health care for adults switched to Republicans after facing political resistance from Democrats.

Some say the abortion debate should show Republicans that once MacDonald makes his controversial stance clear, he’s largely unwavering. When MacDonald switched parties, he said he would not support winner-take-all. Others say he did what served him best politically.

McDonald’s stance has softened in recent weeks under pressure from local, state and national Republicans, including some with ties to the Trump campaign. He was one of two dozen Republican state senators who met with Pillen and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sept. 18.

Both parties were informed

People in the room said MacDonald told Republican colleagues last week that he was looking for a way to build consensus. On Thursday, shortly after the meeting discussions became public, Macdonald told the Examiner that he remained opposed to a winner-take-all approach “as of today.”

Since issuing his statement, he has continued to meet and speak with people on both sides of the issue, including those associated with Trump. He also heard from national and local Democrats with ties to Harris.

But on Monday, MacDonald seemed to want to put the issue to rest. With it, he might win another election, and a small slice of Nebraska would be important to both presidential campaigns.

U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska said he was “very disappointed” with Senator McDonough’s opposition to the winner-take-all approach. Ricketts said Nebraskans should have a say as part of the Electoral College and “elect a president for all Nebraskans.”

Republican state Sen. Rob Dover, who represents the Norfolk area, also expressed disappointment with McDonald’s decision.

“This election has too much at stake for Nebraskans to give up their electoral votes,” Dover said in a statement. “We should speak with a unified voice.”

State Sen. Loren Lippincott, a Republican from Center City, said he has spoken with the governor’s office and they now question whether a special session on winner-take-all will be called this year. He said MacDonald’s vote was crucial.

“This closes the coffin,” Lippincott said of his fellow senator’s statement. “McMcDonald is absolutely opposed and that’s the end of it. We will have to reintroduce this bill at the next meeting.

Senator MacDonald says he opposes winner-take-all ‘starting today’

Both Trump and Harris have campaign staff in Nebraska and have sent agents to campaign here. Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Nebraska native, held a rally here. Trump’s running mate, Ohio U.S. Senator Vance, came to Nebraska to raise money and meet with local Republicans.

For MacDonald, this calculation may be partly political. He has publicly considered running for Omaha mayor as early as 2025.

Statewide support leans toward winner-take-all, but polls for several years have shown broad bipartisan support in the 2nd District to keep the state’s unusual system, which has brought attention and money to the Omaha area.

MacDonald’s statement acknowledged the impact on the region.

“For Omaha… it brings tremendous national attention, impacts our local economy and forces presidential candidates to make their case to all Nebraskans rather than just flying over us. and ignore us,” he said.

Praised for being “strong”

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Klebb praised McDonough for “standing strong against intense pressure from out-of-state interests and protecting the voice of Nebraskans in our democracy.”

“Nebraska has a long and proud tradition of independence, and our election system reflects that by ensuring that our election results truly represent the will of the people and are free from interference,” Cribb said.

Cribb also said the party would support leaders who “stand up for their people,” which some interpreted as a hint that there might be some push for MacDonald’s return or some form of party recognition if he ran for office. Support opens doors.

The Nebraska Republican Party had no immediate comment.

MacDonald WTA Statement