GOP senator from Nebraska rejects Trump-backed Electoral College change

Maine and Nebraska are the only two states where the candidate who wins at the state level is awarded two electoral votes and the winner of each congressional district is awarded one vote.

“Elections should be an opportunity for all voters to be heard, no matter who they are, where they live, or what party they support,” McDonnell's statement said. “For decades, Nebraska has tried to live up to that ideal by allocating our Electoral College votes so that all Nebraskans have an equal say in choosing our president. For Omaha, the city I love and have called home for 58 years, this brings tremendous national attention, impacts our local economy, and forces presidential candidates to make their case to all Nebraskans instead of simply flying over us and ignoring us.”

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The senator went on to say that there had been discussions in recent weeks about whether the allocation of seats in the Electoral College should be changed.

While McDonnell said he respected the wishes of some of his colleagues on the issue, he also took the time to listen to his constituents and politicians on both sides.

“After careful consideration, it is clear to me that now, 43 days before Election Day, is not the right time to make this change,” he wrote. “I have informed Governor Pillen that I will not change my long-standing position and will oppose any attempts to change our Electoral College system before the 2024 election.”

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McDonnell also said he has encouraged the governor and will encourage his colleagues to pass a change in the law next year that would give the people of Nebraska the opportunity to decide how the Electoral College votes are distributed.

“This November, Nebraskans will have the opportunity to elect candidates at every level who reflect their views, including on this issue,” McDonnell wrote. “That's how it should be. Nebraskan voters, not politicians of any party, should have the final say on how we elect a president.”

The senator's decision means Republicans in Nebraska do not have the two-thirds majority they would need to pass a change before the Nov. 5 election.

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A senator from Nebraska said he opposed changes to the electoral college votes that would allow Republicans to secure all five votes for Trump. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Trump thanked Governor Pillen at Truth Social Monday for his attempts to help Republicans simplify the complexities of Nebraska's electoral map.

“It would have been better for everyone and far less costly! Unfortunately, for no reason at all, a Democrat turned Republican (?) Senator named Mike McDonnell decided to stand in the way of a great, sensible Republican victory,” Trump wrote. “Just another 'loudmouth'! Who knows, maybe one of the other two Republicans who voted 'no' will change their minds.

In addition to Governor Pillen, Trump also thanked Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert. He also said he favored an all-in-one distribution of Nebraska's electoral votes.

“I LOVE OMAHA and won it in 2016,” the former president wrote. “Looks like I got to do it again!!!”

Nebraska is one of nine states that have been won by Republican candidates in every presidential election since 1964. In addition, the state has not had a winner-take-all rule since 1991, and in most cases Republican candidates have won all of the state's votes since then.

But in 2020, President Biden won the vote for Omaha's 2nd Congressional District. Former President Obama did the same in 2008.

To secure the presidency, a candidate must receive 270 of the 538 electoral votes.

In one scenario, Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris would win the swing states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, while Trump would win the other four swing states of North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. In this case, Harris would receive 269 electoral votes and Trump 268 – including four from Nebraska.

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The Associated Press reported that in this scenario, a Trump victory in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District would result in a 269-269 tie, leaving the final decision to the U.S. House of Representatives. At that point, each state would have one vote, a situation that would likely favor Trump. However, if Harris won the district, she would be president.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.