Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) has voiced strong support for the state’s transition back to a “winner-take-all” electoral system. The proposal could shift the political landscape significantly in favor of Republican strategy in the rapidly approaching 2024 presidential election.
Nebraska, alongside Maine, stands out for its unique method of allocating Electoral College votes by congressional district rather than the winner-take-all system employed by the remaining 48 states. The current method has occasionally tipped one of Nebraska’s electoral votes to Democratic candidates, as seen with Obama in 2008 and Biden in 2020.
Gov. Pillen’s endorsement of a bill introduced in January to amend this system reflects a keen desire to unify Nebraska’s electoral voice and ensure it echoes the state’s predominant Republican preference.
“It would bring Nebraska into line with 48 of our fellow states, better reflect the founders’ intent, and ensure our state speaks with one unified voice in presidential elections,” Governor Pillen articulated, urging Republican lawmakers to expedite the bill’s passage.
The conservative Nebraska Freedom Coalition and other like-minded groups have praised Governor Pillen’s stance, emphasizing the urgency of the matter and the need to solidify Republican votes in the legislature. Their advocacy underscores a broader conservative effort to consolidate electoral strength and prevent future losses attributed to the division of electoral votes.
Suppose Donald Trump flips Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada next fall, as current polls all show him doing. Would he win the presidency? Not quite. In fact, if Trump flips those three states and no others, he loses by exactly ONE electoral vote.
Why? Nebraska.
Despite being one of…
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 2, 2024
🚨HUGE UPDATE: Republican Governor Jim Pillen has responded to our call for the great state of Nebraska to return to an electoral college winner-take-all model and promises to sign the bill if sent to his desk!
A big thank you to The Charlie Kirk Show audience and everyone who… https://t.co/EVWER3ZARF pic.twitter.com/vBfSuno4Pn
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 2, 2024
This legislative effort was spurred by conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who highlighted the critical nature of Nebraska’s electoral vote allocation in the context of the 2024 election. Kirk’s advocacy, which included a direct call to action to Nebraskans, has been credited with spurring Governor Pillen’s announcement and reinvigorating the push for legislative change.
Kirk announced as part of a series of posts to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday: “HUGE UPDATE: Republican Governor Jim Pillen has responded to our call for the great state of Nebraska to return to an electoral college winner-take-all model and promises to sign the bill if sent to his desk! A big thank you to The Charlie Kirk Show audience and everyone who picked up the phone and made this happen. If you live in Nebraska, please contact Sen. Aguilar and Sen. Sanders and *respectfully* ask them to move LB 764 through committee.”
President Donald Trump has also expressed support for the move, recognizing its potential to secure Nebraska’s electoral votes for the Republican candidate and, by extension, strengthen his electoral prospects in 2024.
