GOP state senator opposes Electoral College change that may have helped

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A Democrat-turned-Republican senator shot down an effort in Nebraska to change how electoral votes are allocated in the state, prompting a response from former President Donald Trump.

Nebraska state Sen. Mike McDonnell, who left the Democratic Party and joined the GOP this year, voiced his opposition to the Republican effort to have the state’s electoral votes count as they do in the rest of the country, besides Maine. Rather than award Nebraska’s five electoral votes as a winner-take-all, McDonnell cited conversations with constituents and other leaders in his decision to keep the system currently in place.

“Maine and Nebraska are the only two states that give two electoral votes to the candidate who wins statewide and one to the winner in each congressional district,” Fox News explained, noting that the senator’s decision “means Republicans do not have the two-thirds majority they would need in Nebraska to pull off a change before the Nov. 5 election.”

(Video Credit: 6 News WOWT)

“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 said in his statement. “For decades, Nebraska has tried to live up to that ideal by allocating our electoral college votes in a way that gives all Nebraskans an equal voice in choosing our President. For Omaha, the city I love and have called home for 58 years, it brings tremendous national attention, is impactful on our local economy, and forces Presidential candidates to make their case to all Nebraskans, instead of just flying over and disregarding us.”

“After deep consideration, it is clear to me that right now, 43 days from Election Day, is not the moment to make this change,” he wrote. “I have notified Governor Pillen that I will not change my long-held position and will oppose any attempted changes to our electoral college system before the 2024 election.”

The former Democrat from Omaha also said he is hoping to get an amendment passed next year allowing Nebraskans to decide how to allocate electoral votes.

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

Trump responded with thanks to GOP Gov. Jim Pillen and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert while calling out McDonnell as a “Grandstander!”

“It would have been better and far less expensive for everyone! 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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Just another ‘Grandstander!’ Who knows, perhaps one of the other two Republicans that were a ‘NO’ Vote will change their minds.

I would like to thank Governor Jim Pillen of Nebraska for trying to help the Republican Party simplify the complexity of the State’s Electoral Map. It would have been better, and far less expensive, for everyone! Unfortunately, a Democrat turned Republican(?) State Senator named…

— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) September 23, 2024

“I LOVE OMAHA, and won it in 2016,” the GOP nominee added. “Looks like I’ll have to do it again!!!”

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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.