Nebraska Lawmakers Reject 'Winner-Take-All' Electoral System Proposal
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Nebraska lawmakers voted against a proposal to change the state's electoral system to a “winner-take-all” model, despite endorsements from former President Donald Trump and Nebraska Gov Jim Pillen (R).
For Context: Nebraska is one of only two states that does not use the “winner-take-all” model in its electoral system, instead allocating their electoral votes based on district outcomes. In the 2020 election, Trump won the state, but President Joe Biden secured one electoral vote from Nebraska’s 2nd District, dominated by the swing region in Omaha. If enacted, the new proposal could have likely cost Biden an Electoral College vote in the 2024 polls and would have made Nebraska's electoral system similar to most other states.
Details: The electoral system change was supported by Trump and Pillen. It was expected to pass due to Republican-majority support, but it failed in a procedural vote of 8-36.
Key Quotes: State Senator Julie Slama, who spearheaded the bill, expressed disappointment at the vote's outcome, stating, “The 'filibuster-proof' majority doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to make Nebraska a Winner-Take-All state in an election year.”
How the Media Covered It: Fox News (Right bias) emphasized the potential advantage the proposal would have given to Republicans due to Nebraska’s red-leaning majority. MSNBC (Left bias) highlighted the pressure from Donald Trump and activist Charlie Kirk to pass the bill and the potential effects on the 2024 election if enacted. The Hill (Center bias) outlined both the bill's potential impact and the disappointment expressed by Republicans following the vote. This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Trump's last-minute pressure campaign to change Nebraska's electoral system falls short
Nebraska lawmakers soundly defeated an effort in the Legislature to shift the state to a winner-take-all system of awarding electoral votes, a measure whose fate drew interest from the Biden campaign — and pressure from Donald Trump.
Legislators struck down state Sen. Julie Slama's attempt to attach the bill to unrelated existing legislation Wednesday, by a vote of 36-8, leaving Republicans with a shrinking window to bring the measure up for a vote before the legislative session ends April 18.
Unlike most other states, Nebraska splits its five electoral votes...
From the Center
Nebraska lawmakers overwhelmingly reject Trump-backed ‘winner-take-all’ electoral system
An attempt to change Nebraska to a “winner-take-all” Electoral College system failed a key procedural vote late Wednesday, despite support by former President Trump, Gov. Jim Pillen (R) and Sen. Pete Ricketts (R).
Switching Nebraska’s Electoral College vote distribution in the Republican-dominated state would bring it in line with much of the rest of the country and could net Trump an extra vote this November, though an attempt to attach the bill to an unrelated measure as an amendment Wednesday failed by a significant margin.
From the Right
Nebraska legislature rejects Trump-approved 'winner-take-all' electoral system bill
An attempt to make Nebraska's elections into a "winner-take-all" system failed this week.
State Sen. Julie Slama attached the proposed election overhaul to the unrelated bill LB1300 on Wednesday in an attempt to make the change before the end of the legislative session on April 18.
It fell short of the 23 necessary votes, failing with a final 8-36 count.
Nebraska is one of only two states in the U.S. that do not use the winner-take-all system, the other being Maine.
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