Nebraska Republicans Renew Push for ‘Winner Take All’ Electoral System | USAEMALL.com

A renewed push by Nebraska Republicans to maneuver to a “winner-take-all” system in presidential elections has raised the prospect that the 2024 contest might finish in an electoral faculty tie — with the House of Representatives deciding the winner.

Nebraska and Maine are the one states that divide their electoral votes in keeping with the presidential winners of congressional districts. In 2020, Joseph R. Biden Jr. gained the jap district round Omaha and its one vote. On Tuesday, Gov. Jim Pillen of Nebraska, a Republican, threw his assist behind a G.O.P.-led invoice languishing within the state’s unicameral legislature that might finish the follow.

“It would bring Nebraska in line with 48 of our fellow states, better reflect the founders’ intent, and ensure our state speaks with one unified voice in presidential elections,” Mr. Pillen wrote in an announcement.

The resurrection of the state invoice was sparked this week by Charlie Kirk, the chief govt of Turning Point USA, a pro-Trump conservative advocacy group, who pressed the state legislature to maneuver ahead on social media.

Former President Donald J. Trump rapidly endorsed the governor’s “very smart letter” on his social media web site.

And for good motive. If Mr. Biden had been to carry Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, however lose Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and the one Nebraska vote he took in 2020, the electoral faculty could be deadlocked at 269 votes every. The House would then resolve the victor, not by complete votes however by the votes of every state delegation. That would virtually actually give the election to Mr. Trump.

But that Sun-Belt-sweep-plus-one situation nonetheless could be out of attain. Democrats within the legislature expressed confidence on Tuesday that they may filibuster the measure, and the state legislative session is about to finish on April 18.

Still, making issues extra white-knuckled for Democrats, State Senator Mike McDonnell introduced on Wednesday he was altering events, from Democratic to Republican, after being censured for voting with Republicans on abortion and transgender points.

Without his vote, Democrats might lose the 17 votes they should maintain a filibuster. Jane Kleeb, the chairwoman for the Nebraska Democratic Party, stated she has assurances that Mr. McDonnell won’t vote to undertake a winner-take-all system on electoral votes, however she added that she is watching carefully.

Conversely, Maine, the place Democrats maintain the governor’s workplace and a majority within the legislature, might change its system to take again the electoral vote that Mr. Trump gained in 2020. Mr. Biden gained Maine by 9 proportion factors, however Mr. Trump took a vote within the electoral faculty by profitable the state’s rural second district.