Key Nebraska lawmakers are dampening the prospects of passing a long-pending bill, recently endorsed by former President Donald Trump and Governor Jim Pillen, aimed at altering the state’s Electoral College vote allocation system.
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Key Nebraska lawmakers
The proposed switch to a winner-takes-all model could significantly impact the potential paths to victory for both Trump and President Joe Biden in the 2024 election, according to analysts.
Currently, Nebraska allocates three of its five Electoral College votes based on the outcomes of its three congressional districts, with the remaining two votes going to the statewide winner.
In the 2020 election, Biden secured one district, earning him one Electoral College vote, while Trump secured the other four.
Analysts suggest that in November’s general election, there are scenarios where Biden may need that single district’s vote to reach the crucial threshold of 270 Electoral College votes and surpass Trump. Conversely, without that possibility, Trump might find it easier to keep Biden below 270, potentially leading to Biden’s loss.
The proposed bill seeks to redistribute the three electors awarded to each of the state’s congressional districts, instead awarding all five to the statewide winner, a move that leans toward the Republican Party.
Despite the eleventh-hour push by Pillen and national Republicans to enact the change, the legislation—originally introduced 16 months ago by state Sen. Loren Lippincott, a Republican—faces significant time constraints to reach the governor’s desk.
As of Wednesday, Nebraska’s Senate is already 54 days into its 60-day legislative calendar and is set to adjourn on April 18, with no hearings scheduled for the bill.
Lippincott expressed concern about the bill’s status, acknowledging that it is likely stalled in the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee, where it has remained since its introduction in January 2023.
To become law, the proposal must navigate through committee and undergo at least two rounds of floor debate before advancing to a final vote. Lippincott remains committed to advancing the bill but acknowledges the challenging timeframe.
Despite calls from Trump and Pillen to pass the legislation, key lawmakers like Sen. Tom Brewer and Speaker of the Legislature Sen. John Arch see little possibility for the bill’s success within the current timeframe.
Even if the bill were to leave committee, Lippincott anticipates resistance from Democrats, who could filibuster the proposal. Additionally, Pillen has not signaled a willingness to convene a special session of the Legislature to address the bill’s passage.
A recent party switch by State Sen. Mike McDonnell from Democrat to Republican, theoretically giving Republicans the necessary votes to break a filibuster, doesn’t guarantee support for changing Nebraska’s electoral vote structure, as McDonnell has indicated his opposition to the proposed change.
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