An attempt to make Nebraska's elections into a 'winner-take-all' system failed this week as State Sen. Julie Slama's proposed election overhaul did not garner enough support. The proposal, attached to an unrelated bill, fell short of the necessary votes with a final count of 8-36. Nebraska, along with Maine, is one of only two states in the U.S. that do not use the winner-take-all system in the Electoral College, assigning votes based on district.
A shift to a winner-take-all system would likely benefit Republicans by allowing the red majority in Nebraska to dominate and prevent minority blue factions from capturing a delegate. Despite holding a legislative majority, Republicans failed to pass the amendment, drawing criticism from Slama for lacking 'intestinal fortitude.'
State Sen. Loren Lippincott, who sponsored the initial winner-take-all bill, expressed disappointment in its failure to pass before the legislative session closes. The bill had support from Governor Jim Pillen and former President Donald Trump, who both advocated for the change to align Nebraska with the majority of states and reflect the founders' intent.
Trump, in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, highlighted Governor Pillen's endorsement of the winner-take-all system, emphasizing that it is what most Nebraskans desire and aligns with the intentions of the Founding Fathers. Despite the setback in the legislative process, efforts are being made to explore options to advance the proposed election overhaul.
