Nebraska Governor Refuses to Call Special Session to Alter State’s Electoral Votes, Dealing Blow to Trump

Nebraska GOP Governor Jim Pillen announced he will not call a special legislative session to switch the state’s Electoral College allocation system to winner-take-all, despite pressure from former President Donald Trump and his allies. The current system awards three electoral votes to the winner of each congressional district and two to the statewide winner. Pillen explained that the Republicans did not have enough votes to overcome a filibuster in the unicameral legislature, with GOP Senator Mike McDonnell, a former Democrat, stating he would not support the change so close to the election. This decision means the system will remain unchanged for the 2024 election. In 2020, President Joe Biden won the Omaha-based 2nd District, prompting Trump to advocate for the switch to winner-take-all. However, with the effort stalling, Trump expressed disappointment on Truth Social, hinting at a potential rematch. Despite the lack of change in the Electoral College allocation system, both parties have been active in Nebraska, with Democrats outspending Republicans on ads. GOP Rep. Don Bacon believes Trump could still win the 2nd District if he focuses on key issues like cost of living and immigration. It remains to be seen whether Trump and his allies will intensify their efforts in Nebraska moving forward.

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