Nebraska governor declines special session to change electoral vote allocation

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Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has decided against calling a special legislative session to alter the state's electoral vote allocation system. This announcement follows pressure from former President Donald Trump and his allies, who advocated for a transition to a "winner-take-all" approach to enhance Republican chances in the 2024 presidential election.

In a statement, Pillen emphasized that despite extensive efforts to gather the necessary support in the state legislature, they were unable to secure the required 33 votes. "My team and I have worked relentlessly to secure a filibuster-proof 33-vote majority," he stated, noting that they had left no stone unturned in their attempts to enact this change.

Republican State Senator Mike McDonnell from Omaha expressed his refusal to back the initiative, citing concerns over the timing, given the imminent election. McDonnell mentioned that after careful consideration and discussions with constituents and national leaders, he believed it was not the right moment to implement such a significant change.

Nebraska currently utilizes a congressional district method to allocate its electoral votes, awarding two votes to the winner of the statewide popular vote and one vote to the winner in each congressional district. This system has historical significance, as the outcome in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District has previously influenced national election results.