Governor Abandons Winner-Take-All
By Gordon Hopkins
Governor Jim Pillen has abandoned his attempts to change the way Nebraska allocates electoral votes, at least for the 2024 election cycle.
In a statement issued Tuesday morning, September 24, Pillen said, “My team and I have worked relentlessly to secure a filibuster-proof 33-vote majority to get winner-take-all passed before the November election. Given everything at stake for Nebraska and our country, we have left every inch on the field to get this done.”
However, Nebraska Senator Mike McDonnell (District 5), a former Democrat who switched parties earlier this year, has made clear he has no intention of backing the change. In a statement, McDonnell said, “Elections should be an opportunity for all voters to be heard, no matter who they are, where they live, or what party they support.”
Most states allocate electoral votes to a single candidate. Only two states, Nebraska and Maine, allocate two electoral votes to the state popular vote winner, and then one electoral vote to the popular vote winner in each congressional district. This leaves open the possibility that Nebraska and Maine could allocate electoral votes to more than one candidate.
Governor Pillen said, “Unfortunately, we could not persuade 33 state senators. Senator Mike McDonnell of Omaha has confirmed he is unwilling to vote for winner-take-all before the 2024 election. That is profoundly disappointing to me and the many others who have worked so earnestly to ensure all Nebraskans’ votes are sought after equally this election. Based on the lack of 33 votes, I have no plans to call a special session on this issue prior to the 2024 election. I am grateful to the many Nebraskans who made their voices heard during this process.”
Senator McDonnell’s refusal has also drawn the ire of former president and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who called McDonnell “Just another ‘Grandstander!’” on his Truth social media platform.”
“Unfortunately, a Democrat turned Republican(?) State Senator named Mike McDonnell decided, for no reason whatsoever, to get in the way of a great Republican, common sense, victory,” wrote Trump.
In response to Governor Pillen’s decision not to call for another special session of the legislature, the Republican Party of Nebraska released a statement, “While Governor Pillen has decided to not hold another Special Session, we believe that the single subject Special Session on WTA (Winner-Take-All) would have provided the opportunity to educate all Senators on the Electoral College system, the changes that have occurred since the census redistricting from 2020, and ultimately provide a venue for the Second House to support or oppose the change to Winner-Take-All. We believe the voice of the people warranted a Special Session so representatives could truly REPRESENT the will of their constituents.”
Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, also released a statement, “Nebraska has a long and proud tradition of independence, and our electoral system reflects that by ensuring that the outcome of our elections truly represents the will of the people without interference. Senator McDonnell is standing strong against tremendous pressure from out-of-state interests to protect Nebraskans’ voice in our democracy. In this election and those to come, Nebraskans will continue to lead the way by electing leaders at every level who stand up for the people and respect our spirit of independence.”
