Republicans want to change how Nebraska awards electoral votes

Ray Bogan

Nebraska Republicans want to give all five of the state’s electoral votes to the winner of the state’s presidential popular vote this November. Currently, Nebraska is one of only two states that awards two electoral votes to the winner of the state-wide popular vote and the rest based on who wins in each congressional district. 

Nebraska began splitting its votes in 1992. Since the change, the votes have been split twice – 2008 and 2020.

The state’s Congressional delegation wrote a letter to Governor Jim Pillen and Assembly Speaker John Arch urging them to return to the winner take all system. 

They wrote: “Senators and governors are elected by the state as a whole because they represent all of the people of Nebraska equally, and the state should speak with a united voice in presidential elections as well.”

KOLN TV in Lincoln reported Senator Lindsey Graham met with Nebraska’s Governor and about two dozen Republican legislators in an attempt to convince them to make the change. 

When asked, Graham confirmed the meeting and said he was invited by Senator Pete Ricketts and denied that he went at the behest of Donald Trump.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.: “I hope the people in Nebraska will understand this may come down to a single electoral vote. And I just don’t believe a Harris presidency is good for Nebraska. I don’t think it’s good for foreign policy interests of America.”

According to the Nebraska Examiner, Governor Pillen would only call a special session if he had 33 or more firm votes in favor of winner take all so they can overcome a promised filibuster. As of now they are a few votes short and State Senator Tom Brewer told the outlet, “I think the chances are very remote.”

Lawmakers in Maine, the only other state with split electoral votes, are monitoring Nebraska, regardless of how remote the senator says those chances may be. 

In 2020, 4 of Nebraska’s electoral votes went to Donald Trump, one went to Joe Biden. In maine, it was the opposite: three went to Biden, one went to Trump. 

So Maine’s House Majority Leader says her state would also switch to winner take all if Nebraska does, to cancel out the expected additional electoral vote for Trump. 

Leader Maureen Terry said in a statement obtained by the Nebraska Examiner: 

“If Nebraska’s Republican governor and Republican-controlled Legislature were to change their electoral system this late in the cycle in order to unfairly award Donald Trump an additional electoral vote, I think the Maine Legislature would be compelled to act.” 

For more unaided reporting straight from our nations capital download the straight arrow news app and turn on notifications.