There is still no letup in Nebraska’s battle for one electoral vote.
The fact that Omaha is a blue dot amid a sea of red in Nebraska is precisely the reason why Donald Trump and his friends are working so hard to change the way that the state distributes electoral votes in presidential elections.
In spite of the fact that the Nebraska Legislature has closed the door on a pressure campaign that was designed to prevent President Joe Biden from winning one of the state’s five electoral votes – as he did in 2020 by carrying the Omaha-anchored 2nd Congressional District – Trump supporters have pledged to continue the endeavor.
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, made an appearance here on Tuesday alongside numerous state Republican politicians in order to mobilize support for the move. Kirk stated, “We are going to keep on pushing and keep on pushing and keep on pushing until Nebraska gets winner-take-all.” “Nebraska has the ability to choose a president.”
In a statement made this week, Republican Governor Jim Pillen of Nebraska stated that he was open to the idea of calling a special legislative session with the purpose of making the presidential campaign in his state a winner-take-all affair. This would almost certainly ensure that Donald Trump would receive the entire set of electoral votes. However, Pillen stated that he would only undertake such a course of action “when there is sufficient support in the Legislature to pass it.”
Less than seven months before the election in November, the Republican-led effort to change election law in Nebraska, which Democrats have vowed to block, highlights the remarkably close nature of a rematch between Biden and Trump as well as the precarious path to winning a majority in the Electoral College, which is equivalent to 270 electoral votes. “You have outsiders trying to change the rules – you can’t do that,” said Precious McKesson, the executive director of the Nebraska Democratic Party, who voted the state’s lone Electoral College vote for Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in 2020. McKesson was referring to the fact that both candidates were running for president. Republican Party members are aware of the significance of voting.
When it comes to the Electoral College, Nebraska is one of just two states, along with Maine, that divides votes by congressional district rather than using a winner-take-all system that applies across the entire state. The winner of the statewide election is awarded two electoral votes, while the remaining votes are distributed among the candidates who received the most votes in each district, with each candidate receiving one vote. The method was beneficial to Trump in Maine, a blue state, just as it was beneficial to Biden in Nebraska.
This is a close call
There is a possibility that the presidential election of this year could be decided by a single electoral vote. This is not an exceedingly remote possibility.
Assuming that Biden is successful in winning the so-called blue wall states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania and that Trump is successful in Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada, the outcome of the contest in Nebraska’s 2nd District is likely to tip the scales and prevent the race from finishing in a tie with a score of 269-269. It would be up to the House of Representatives to decide who would emerge victorious in such a scenario.
“If you believe in the Electoral College, as I do, then why does it make sense for Nebraska to not be following that same idea at the same time?” Becky Rasmussen, who was waiting in line for the event that Kirk and his organization, Turning Point Action, staged at Lord of Hosts Church in Omaha on Tuesday night, stated that she understood what Kirk was saying. It is really disheartening to see Vice President Joe Biden win even a little portion of this state, as we are one of the most conservative states in the country. Kirk pleaded with supporters of Trump to continue exerting pressure on the governor and Republican lawmakers; nevertheless, it is still far from guaranteed that such efforts will be successful, particularly in the state of Nebraska, which is considered to be quite conservative.
In order for a legislation to be successful in the state’s unicameral Legislature, it would require the backing of thirty-three senators in order to survive a filibuster led by Democrats. CNN received statements from advisors to both parties indicating that it was highly improbable, unless the lobbying push from Trump supporters altered the existing political environment.
No, this is not about the campaign of either Biden or Trump. Tony Vargas, a Democratic state senator who represents a portion of the 2nd District and is making his second try for the seat this year, stated that the issue at hand is about democracy and whether or not we are willing to safeguard it. People in Nebraska are quite concerned about this. This is the reason why we safeguarded it for such a long time.
In this Biden district, Republican Representative Don Bacon, who has served as the incumbent for four terms, has stated that he is in favor of modifying the state’s election law.
On the other hand, Bacon stated, “I don’t think it works if we’re one of two out of fifty states.” Because of this, I believe that Nebraska’s impact is diminished. It is my opinion that it ought to be standardized.
A close race for the presidency
The Republicans in Nebraska have increased their efforts in response to the influence that they have received from conservative activists and allies loyal to Trump. The final vote is in. Still one more vote. Eric Underwood, the chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party, led rallygoers in a chant on Tuesday night. He yelled, “One more vote,” saying that he was encouraging them to vote.
The contention made by supporters of Trump amounts to an uncommon and explicit admission that the former president is currently engaged in a race with Vice President Joe Biden that is quite close. In the year 2016, Donald Trump won all five of Nebraska’s electoral votes, a feat that Mitt Romney had accomplished in the year 2012. On his route to a national landslide victory in 2008, Barack Obama captured the 2nd District of the United States.
In a race that might be determined by the tiniest – and most seemingly insignificant – of margins, Republican leaders feel that if the legislation in Nebraska were to be altered before November, it would essentially cut off one road to victory for Biden and open up new prospects for Trump.
On the condition that the election measure receives the requisite support from the 49 members of the state Legislature, Pillen agreed to call for a special session of the legislature. In spite of the fact that the Republican Party holds a significant majority, it is not obvious what will happen to the proposed proposal. Furthermore, if the election rules were altered in the middle of the campaign, the entire situation may become a contentious legal dispute. While Kirk was rallying supporters in Omaha, state legislators in Lincoln, which is approximately an hour away, were winding up their business for the year. This was happening despite the fact that there were mounting demands from the right to reconsider the bill.
Kirk stated, “We will hold the next event on the steps of the Capitol if there is radio silence throughout the entire event.” The efforts of Kirk were given a boost on Wednesday morning when Michael Whatley, who had just been installed as chair of the Republican National Committee, called on the Nebraska Republican Party to take action.
Whatley stated on social media that “President Trump and Republicans are united: Nebraska should shift to a winner-take-all system for its electoral votes.” This statement was made in reference to Lincoln, Nebraska. Let’s get this done, shall we?
The Biden campaign has already begun to focus on Nebraska, as seen by the fact that they dispatched a second person, Doug Emhoff, to Omaha in order to establish a Democratic Party office a month ago. “Protect the blue dot” is the message that is painted in blue upon the wall, and it is very direct.
In an effort to convey a message to Republicans, McKesson, the executive director of the Nebraska Democrats, stated, “They are not allowed to have this blue dot.” We are going to fight to keep it, but if you want it, you will have to put in a lot of effort to get it.