Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced Tuesday he will not call a special legislative session to change how the state allocates its electoral votes, dashing Republican hopes that the switch could happen before November.
Former President Donald Trump and his allies have been pushing state lawmakers to switch to a winner-take-all system, in which the presidential candidate who carries the state gets all five of its electoral votes. Currently, three of the state’s votes are awarded to the candidate who wins each of its three congressional districts.
Pillen, a Republican, said in a statement that Republicans still do not have the 33 votes needed to overcome a filibuster in the unicameral Legislature, saying he and his team "have worked relentlessly" to find the votes.
"Unfortunately, we could not persuade 33 state senators," Pillen said, noting that GOP state Sen. Mike McDonnell, a former Democrat, confirmed Monday that he would not support the move so close to Election Day.
"That is profoundly disappointing to me and the many others who have worked so earnestly to ensure all Nebraskans’ votes are sought-after equally this election," Pillen said. "Based on the lack of 33 votes, I have no plans to call a special session on this issue prior to the 2024 election. I am grateful to the many Nebraskans who made their voices heard during this process.”
In 2020, Joe Biden won the Omaha-based 2nd District, defeating Trump by 7 percentage points and notching the district's electoral vote. That one vote could be crucial in a close election, which prompted Trump and his allies to push for a shift to winner-take-all before November. But Trump signaled Monday night that the effort has stalled given McDonnell's announcement.
"It would have been better, and far less expensive, for everyone!" Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding later: "I LOVE OMAHA, and won it in 2016. Looks like I’ll have to do it again!!!"
It remains to be seen whether Trump and his allies will devote more resources to the state.
Democrats have far outspent Republicans on the airwaves in Nebraska, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. Since Vice President Kamala Harris took over at the top of the Democratic ticket in late July, Democrats have spent $6.7 million on ads in Nebraska, while Republicans have spent $170,000.
GOP Rep. Don Bacon, who represents the competitive 2nd District, said Monday that Trump could win that electoral vote as long as he stays focused on key issues, including cost of living and immigration.
"If we had a disciplined campaign and focus on those issues, I think he would do very well in our district," Bacon told NBC News' "Meet the Press NOW."
