Republican leaders in Nebraska are pushing for the state to switch to a winner-take-all presidential election system to benefit Donald Trump in the upcoming election. This move comes after conservative activist Charlie Kirk urged Nebraskans to make the change to strengthen their political position. Meanwhile, Maine, the only other state that splits Electoral College votes by congressional district, does not have time to counter Nebraska’s move.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham are rallying support for the winner-take-all system, with Pillen needing 33 state senators on board before calling a special session. The push for this change in Nebraska also impacts the broader political landscape, as President Joe Biden received one vote in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District in 2020, while Trump won all five of the state’s electors in 2016.
In contrast, Maine has not seen a Republican presidential win since 1988, with Democrats supporting the current system of splitting votes by district. However, there is concern that if Nebraska adopts the winner-take-all system, Maine’s current approach could be at risk. With Nebraska having more time to consider the change due to the election schedule, Maine is in a more vulnerable position in terms of matching Nebraska’s move.
Maine Democrats have not strongly reacted to Nebraska’s potential move, with House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham highlighting Maine’s presidential election process as the gold standard. Faulkingham stated that Maine should advocate for other states to adopt a more representative process like theirs, rather than switching to a winner-take-all system.
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