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At the request of former President Donald Trump, Republican lawmakers in Nebraska are changing the way the state allocates electoral votes, creating a “winner-take-all” system that could hamper President Joe Biden’s chances of re-election. The government is pushing forward with a last-ditch effort to introduce the system. election.
Under Nebraska’s current system, the presidential candidate who wins a majority of votes in the state receives two of the state’s five electoral votes. Her three other electoral votes will be awarded to the winners of each of her three congressional districts in the state.
Under this system, Democratic candidates have a chance to pick up voters in red-leaning states from liberal-leaning districts surrounding the largest city, Omaha. Biden won this district in 2020, and former President Barack Obama held it in 2008.
General election polls show Trump and Biden in a close race, and the 2024 campaign could end up with just a few electoral votes in key states. Trump wants to sway Nebraska’s system in his favor.
Republicans have attempted to change the system since it was approved by the state Legislature in 1991, but bills have been vetoed by Democratic governors or died in committee.
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What is the state of the system?
An attempt to change the state’s electoral system failed Wednesday night by an 8-36 vote. Republican state Sen. Julie Slama also introduced an unrelated bill amendment Wednesday to change the law, but lawmakers rejected the amendment, arguing it wasn’t relevant enough to add to the bill.
April 18 is the last day of the 2024 legislative session, and time is running out to make changes for the general presidential election in November. There appears to be little path forward for the bill to pass, but Gov. Jim Pillen is pushing the state Legislature to bring it up for another vote.
He said in a statement that a winner-take-all system “brings Nebraska on par with the other 48 states, better reflects the intentions of our founders, and allows our state to speak with a unified voice in presidential elections.” he claimed.
Maine is the only state without a winner-take-all system.
What did Trump say?
President Trump urged the Nebraska Legislature to press ahead with the bill despite the tight deadline.
“Most Nebraskans have wanted to return to this system for a long time, because that’s what 48 other states are doing, and that’s what our founding intent was,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Yes, and because it’s the right thing for the state of Nebraska.” “Thank you to the Governor for his bold leadership. Let’s hope the Senate does the right thing.”
The former president has not undertaken a similar effort to change Maine’s electoral system, which tends to favor Republican presidential candidates.
Like Nebraska, Maine allocates two electoral votes to the winner of the state’s popular vote and one electoral vote to the winner of each congressional district. Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes much of northern Maine, typically draws more conservative votes. Trump won the district and the electoral vote in 2016 and 2020.
How important are Nebraska’s electoral votes?
In 2020, Biden won 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232.
In 2016, Trump won 304 electoral votes to Hillary Clinton’s 227.
A candidate needs to win 270 electoral votes to win the presidential election.
contribution:Maya Marker Hofftoday’s America
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