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Senator Mike McDonnell says he opposes winner-take-all 'starting today' • Nebraska Examiner

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Senator Mike McDonnell says he opposes winner-take-all 'starting today' • Nebraska Examiner

OMAHA – Nebraska State Senator Mike McDonnell from Omaha confirmed Thursday through a spokesman that he discussed the future allocation of Nebraska’s Electoral College votes on Wednesday.

McDonnell was one of two dozen Republican senators who met in Lincoln with Gov. Jim Pillen, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and other supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen holds an afternoon press conference. August 5, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Most members of the group, as well as the Nebraska Republican Party, want Nebraska to follow a winner-takes-all approach to presidential elections like 48 other states. They want this to happen this year.

In Nebraska and Maine, the winner of each congressional district receives a single vote in the Electoral College, plus two votes for the statewide winner of the presidential election.

McDonnell spokesman Barry Rubin called the proposal that Nebraska should award all five Electoral College votes to the statewide winner “a passionate issue for all Nebraskans.”

“Senator McDonnell has heard compelling arguments from both sides,” Rubin said Thursday. “And to this day, he still opposes it.”

McDonnell was initially a Democrat

McDonnell was a lifelong Democrat before switching to the Republican Party in April. He is still a union leader in Omaha. He has ambitions to run for mayor of Omaha as early as 2025.

When he switched parties, he said he would never support the winner-take-all principle. However, several attendees at Wednesday's meeting said McDonnell told them he was looking for a way to get a yes vote but expressed concerns.

Rubin did not answer questions about Wednesday's meeting, but others McDonnell spoke to Thursday said he told some of them he was misunderstood by his Republican colleagues on Wednesday.

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert announces her candidacy for a record fourth term. (Courtesy of Jean Stothert for Mayor)

Wednesday's meeting was used to answer questions aimed at potential GOP supporters who opposed the all-or-nothing approach and suggested they might have concerns about interference in voting rights so close to the general election.

Several participants at the meeting said that some senators who had previously been hesitant had shown more support for the move to winner-take-all this year. And some noted a change in tone from McDonnell.

The winner-take-all initiative receives support from Governor Jim Pillen, Senator Lindsey Graham and Trump

Political observers questioned Thursday whether McDonnell can beat incumbent Republican Mayor Jean Stothert in a city with the most Democrats in the state by playing a winner-take-all approach.

Others said he was not at all sure because modern Republicans value Trump more than many of the party's policies and would likely punish McDonnell if he voted no on the issue.

Republicans are serious about trying to get Trump to win Nebraska's 2nd District, with some saying he could break a 269-269 tie in the Electoral College.

President Joe Biden won the 2nd District in 2020. In the previous election in 2016, Trump won all five of the state's electoral votes, as did Mitt Romney in 2012. In 2008, former President Barack Obama won the 2nd District.

Others react to McDonnell

In a statement Thursday, Pillen praised McDonnell for his help during the recent special session on property tax relief and for his work in funding Offutt Air Force Base.

“I know him to be a conscientious legislator,” Pillen said of McDonnell. “I know he considers all factors in the winner-takes-all approach, and I appreciate his prudence.”

Nebraska Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb introduces Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff at the opening of the new Nebraska Democratic Party office in Omaha. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Jane Kleeb, chairwoman of the Nebraska Democratic Party, praised McDonnell for being “consistent and steadfast in his commitment to ensuring that Nebraskans have a voice and a choice in our electoral process.”

Pillen told senators on Wednesday that they would need to show him they had 33 firm commitments from state lawmakers supporting the winner-take-all principle – the minimum required to overcome a likely filibuster tactic – before he could call a special session to pursue the principle further.

Senators attending the meeting told the Examiner that Pillen would prefer to call a meeting no later than next week.

Ballots will begin being mailed to Nebraskans abroad this week. The first ballots in the U.S. will be mailed Sept. 30. Early in-person voting in Nebraska begins Oct. 7. Some lawyers argue that the rules of an election shouldn't be changed once voting begins.

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