How a GOP fight to change Nebraska’s electoral process could swing the election – Washington Examiner
The article discusses the ongoing efforts by Nebraska Republicans to alter the state’s electoral process, aiming to switch from a system that allocates electoral votes by congressional districts to a winner-take-all system. This change could significantly impact the upcoming presidential election by potentially giving former President Donald Trump an additional electoral vote while diminishing the chances for Vice President Kamala Harris, particularly in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes Omaha and leans toward Harris.
The proposed winner-take-all system would increase Trump’s prospects for returning to the White House, as it might prevent Harris from reaching the necessary 270 electoral votes, even if she wins key battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. In the event of a tie, the House of Representatives would elect the president, while the Senate would choose the vice president; Republicans are seen as more likely to control the Senate.
Trump and Senator Lindsey Graham have been actively lobbying Nebraska state senators for this change, which requires unanimous support from all Republican senators due to their supermajority in the state legislature. However, dissent has emerged, particularly from State Sen. Mike McDonnell, a recent Republican convert, who has expressed intentions to oppose the measure. The article highlights the local sentiment in the 2nd District, with residents feeling that their voices would be undermined by the proposed change and emphasizing the political implications for local candidates.
How a GOP fight to change Nebraska’s electoral process could swing the election
Republicans in Nebraska are trying to change a critical part of the state’s electoral process, which could have significant effects on the presidential election.
The change, a switch from a system that awards electoral votes by congressional districts to a more traditional winner-take-all system, would likely give former President Donald Trump an additional electoral vote instead of ceding it to Vice President Kamala Harris.
Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes the city of Omaha, has leaned toward Harris, and a new push to a winner-take-all system would negate whatever support she has there.
It’d also irrefutably improve Trump’s chances of getting back into the White House. It could prevent Harris from winning 270 electoral votes even if she can capture the battlegrounds of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. In that scenario, Trump could still tie the election if he grabbed the slightly Republican-leaning Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona, while snagging Nevada away as well.
In a tie, whoever is newly elected to the House would select the president, and the Senate would elect the vice president. Republicans are generally favored to win the Senate, while the House picture is more blurry.
Trump and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have been lobbying Nebraska state senators to change the system, and Republicans in the state have the power to do so with a supermajority in the state’s legislature. However, all 33 Republican state senators would have to vote yes in order to pass the change to the system.
At least one has indicated he will not. Recent Republican convert State Sen. Mike McDonnell said this week that he’s a “no” vote. McDonnell is a potential candidate to be Omaha’s mayor, and a “yes” vote from him would likely stir opposition against him because the district supports that it has an individual impact on the presidential election. There’s been a financial benefit to political campaigns visiting the district, an occurrence that’d likely go away if the state goes to winner-take-all.
“The people of the 2nd district are excited to get out to vote, and they are offended by the prospect of the governor and senators and out-of-state interests taking away the opportunity to have their voice be heard,” Democratic state Sen. John Cavanaugh said. “Any politician who takes away their vote to have their voice be heard will feel the repercussions at the ballot box.”
A recent poll showed Harris leading in the 2nd district by 5 points, while Trump led by 17 points statewide. Trump lost the district in 2020 by about 6 points and won it by 2 in 2016.
Republican Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen believes the state could finalize the change as late as the day before Election Day, his spokeswoman told the Washington Post.
The only other state that awards its electoral votes by congressional districts is Maine, which is largely Democratic outside of one-leaning Republican district.
RealClearPolitics’s latest polling average has Harris leading Trump by nearly two points nationwide.
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