Key Nebraska legislator says no to ‘winner-take-all’ Electoral College proposal, bucks Trump allies

A pivotal state senator on Monday doomed GOP hopes to convert Nebraska into a winner-take-all state in the Electoral College.

State Sen. Mike McDonnell, a Republican from Omaha, put the issue to rest after hearing from allies of former President Donald Trump who wanted to ensure that Nebraska’s five electoral votes would be awarded to the statewide winner.

“After deep consideration, it is clear to me that right now, 43 days from Election Day, is not the moment to make this change,” Mr. McDonnell said.

Under the hybrid model the state uses now, Vice President Kamala Harris has a fighting chance of securing one electoral vote from the Omaha region. Nebraska’s congressional delegation and Republican governor wanted a quick change to winner-take-all before November.

Nebraska has split its five electoral votes under a hybrid model since 1992. Two electoral votes are given to the state’s popular vote winner while the others are awarded to the candidate who wins in each of Nebraska’s three House districts.

The 2nd District is home to Omaha and liberal voters, making it a blue dot that awarded its electoral vote to President Biden in 2020.

The single electoral vote could decide November’s national contest.

In one scenario, Mr. Trump flips Arizona, Georgia and Nevada back into the Republican column and Ms. Harris takes Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, leaving both with 269 electoral votes. If Ms. Harris wins the 2nd District in Nebraska, it would clinch her victory.

Barack Obama won the 2nd District in 2008, but the district opted for Mitt Romney in 2012 and Mr. Trump in 2016.

Maine is the only other state that uses a hybrid system to award its electoral votes.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican, said he’d be willing to call a special session to switch to a winner-take-all system, but only if 33 legislators got on board, the number needed to overcome an expected filibuster.

Mr. McDonnell’s vote would have been needed to get to 33. In his statement, he said the current system forces candidates to focus on Nebraska.

“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,” said Mr. McDonnell, a longtime Democrat who switched to the Republican Party in April.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, traveled to Nebraska last week to lobby for a change to the winner-take-all system.

Mr. McDonnell said that while he won’t support any changes before the November election, the legislature should pass a constitutional amendment in next year’s session to put the winner-take-all idea before voters.

“Nebraska voters, not politicians of either party, should have the final say on how we pick a president,” Mr. McDonnell said. “I want to thank the voters who reached out to me for engaging in democracy and for showing America who Nebraskans are — fiercely independent, filled with pride about our great city of Omaha, and deeply devoted to the promise of American democracy.”

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