Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen announced on Tuesday that he will not be calling a special session to alter the state's electoral vote allocation system. This decision effectively ends a push led by former President Donald Trump to switch to a winner-take-all approach.
The move follows Republican state Senator Mike McDonnell's declaration that he would not support a last-minute attempt to overturn the current law, which assigns electoral votes based on congressional districts.
In a statement, Governor Pillen expressed disappointment over the inability to secure the necessary support from 33 state senators for the winner-take-all proposal. He acknowledged the efforts made to ensure equal representation for all Nebraskans but stated that a special session will not be convened before the 2024 election.
Nebraska's electoral system currently awards two electoral votes to the statewide popular vote winner and one vote to the winner in each of the state's three congressional districts. Trump won all five of Nebraska's electoral votes in 2016 but only secured four in 2020, with Joe Biden winning the Omaha-area seat.
The battle over a single electoral vote from Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, known as Omaha's 'blue dot,' has become emblematic of the tight race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
While Trump remains confident of winning four electoral votes from Nebraska, the fifth vote from the 2nd District has become a point of concern, prompting the late push to change the state's election law. Despite Trump's efforts to sway state lawmakers, Governor Pillen's decision not to convene a special session signifies the end of this contentious issue.
The unique electoral system in Nebraska and Maine has drawn national attention, with the fight over a single electoral vote highlighting the significance of every district in a closely contested election.
As the 2024 election approaches, the debate over electoral vote allocation in Nebraska may resurface, but for now, the current system will remain in place.
