Trump slams Nebraska GOP senator for killing change to state's electoral vote system

Former President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon slammed Nebraska Republican state Sen. Mike McDonnell for stopping Trump and his allies from attempting to change the way the mid-western state awards its electoral votes. 

McDonnell released a statement earlier Monday opposing a potential change in the method for the current election cycle, which would have changed Nebraska into a winner-take-all state. Nebraska is currently one of two states that awards the votes based on congressional districts.

Trump and his allies have tried to change the method so he would win all five of the state's electoral college points instead of the predicted four. Omaha usually votes Democrat. But Republican Gov. Jim Pillen said he would not call for a special session of the state legislature unless all 33 GOP state senators promised to pass it.

“I would like to thank Governor Jim Pillen of Nebraska for trying to help the Republican Party simplify the complexity of the State’s Electoral Map. It would have been better, and far less expensive, for everyone!" Trump posted to Truth Social. “Unfortunately, a Democrat turned Republican(?) State Senator named Mike McDonnell decided, for no reason whatsoever, to get in the way of a great Republican, common sense, victory. Just another ‘Grandstander!’”

Although McDonnell opposed the change for the current election cycle, he did suggest that the state legislature send the topic of changing the electoral votes to state residents through a constitutional amendment. 

“Elections should be an opportunity for all voters to be heard, no matter who they are, where they live, or what party they support,” McDonnell said in his statement. “After deep consideration, it is clear to me that right now, 43 days from Election Day, is not the moment to make this change.”

The Nebraska Republican resides in the second district in Nebraska, which is based in Omaha and has split from the other four congressional districts in two of the four previous elections. Trump won the district in 2016, but lost it to President Joe Biden in 2020. The district also voted Republican in 2012, but Democrat in 2008.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.