With the 2024 presidential election approaching and former President Donald Trump locked in a close contest with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, Trump allies are ramping up efforts to alter Nebraska’s Electoral College system. Nebraska and Maine are the only two U.S. states that divide their electoral votes by congressional district, but now Trump supporters are pushing to change Nebraska’s system to award all five of the state’s electoral votes to the statewide winner.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a key Trump ally, has been at the forefront of this push, meeting recently with Nebraska Republican lawmakers. He has called for a special legislative session to revisit the possibility of shifting to a winner-takes-all system, a move that has the backing of the state’s entire Republican congressional delegation and Governor Jim Pillen. Earlier attempts to pass such a law were unsuccessful due to insufficient support in the Nebraska Legislature, but the renewed effort is driven by the tight nature of the race and the importance of every electoral vote.
“To my friends in Nebraska, that one electoral vote could be the difference between Harris being president and not, and she’s a disaster for Nebraska and the world,” Graham said during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Nebraska’s current system splits its five electoral votes: two for the statewide winner and one each for the winners of its three congressional districts. The Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District, historically competitive, has gone to Democrats in two out of the last four elections, including Joe Biden in 2020. Should Harris win Nebraska’s 2nd District in 2024, she could secure the decisive 270th electoral vote needed to win the presidency. Alternatively, a Trump win could result in a 269-269 tie, sending the election to the House of Representatives, where Trump would likely have an advantage.
The urgency of the push stems from the possibility that Harris could win critical battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, while Trump could take North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada. This would leave the electoral vote count at 269-268 in Harris’ favor, making Nebraska’s 2nd District pivotal.
While Nebraska Republicans currently hold a majority in the state’s unicameral Legislature, there has been resistance to the proposed electoral change. State Senator Mike McDonnell, a Republican who recently switched party affiliation, remains opposed to the idea despite representing a district with both Democratic and Republican constituents. A spokesperson for McDonnell stated that he has “heard compelling arguments from both sides” and remains unconvinced.
For the change to move forward, Governor Pillen would need to call a special session, which he has expressed willingness to do if there is a clear indication of sufficient legislative support. The Governor has said he would “enthusiastically” convene a special session if he is assured of at least 33 votes, the minimum required to pass the legislation.
Nebraska Democrats have responded by defending the state’s current system of splitting electoral votes, which they argue allows voters in the competitive 2nd District to have a meaningful say in presidential elections. The Nebraska Democratic Party has been rallying local support, with Omaha yard signs symbolizing the district’s role as a rare blue dot in a largely Republican state.
“Nebraskans don’t need out-of-state interests to come in and tell us to change the way we’ve been doing things for decades,” the Nebraska Democratic Party said in a recent statement, referencing outside pressure from Trump allies. “We are proud of the state senators who have been consistent and steadfast in standing up for Nebraskans having a voice in our electoral process.”
With fewer than 50 days until the election, Trump allies are intensifying efforts to push through a change in Nebraska’s electoral law that could benefit the former president’s chances in a close race. However, resistance from within the state and a tight timeline could complicate their push, leaving Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District a critical battleground in the 2024 presidential election.
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