Omaha, Nebraska
CNN
—
Omaha is a blue dot in a sea of Nebraska purple, which is exactly why Donald Trump and his allies are furiously fighting to change the state’s system of awarding electoral votes in presidential elections.
Even after the Nebraska Legislature closed the door on a stress marketing campaign meant to maintain President Joe Biden from profitable one of many state’s 5 electoral votes – as he did in 2020 by carrying the Omaha-anchored 2nd Congressional District – Trump loyalists are pledging to maintain the hassle alive.
“We’re going to carry on pushing and carry on pushing and carry on pushing till Nebraska will get winner-take-all,” mentioned conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who appeared alongside a number of state Republican officers right here Tuesday to rally assist for the change. “Nebraska may decide a president.”
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican, mentioned this week he was open to calling a particular legislative session devoted to creating his state’s presidential contest a winner-take-all affair, all however assuring that Trump would accumulate the total lot of electoral votes. However Pillen mentioned he would accomplish that solely “when there’s ample assist within the Legislature to move it.”
Lower than seven months earlier than the November election, the Republican-led effort to alter election regulation in Nebraska, which Democrats have vowed to dam, underscores the remarkably close nature of a Biden-Trump rematch and the precarious path to profitable a majority within the Electoral School, or 270 electoral votes.
“You’ve gotten outsiders attempting to alter the foundations – you may’t do this,” mentioned Treasured McKesson, the manager director of the Nebraska Democratic Social gathering who forged the state’s lone Electoral School vote for Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in 2020. “Republicans know that vote may be very crucial.”
Nebraska is one in every of two states – together with Maine – that divide Electoral School votes by congressional district, slightly than statewide, winner-take-all guidelines. Below the system, the statewide winner receives two electoral votes, and the remaining are break up, one apiece, among the many main vote-getters in every district. As Biden did in Nebraska, Trump benefitted from the system in Maine, a blue state, the place he gained a single electoral vote in 2016 and 2020 regardless of shedding statewide.
It’s hardly a far-fetched situation that this 12 months’s presidential race may come all the way down to a single electoral vote.
Of this 12 months’s presidential battlegrounds, if Biden carries the so-called blue wall states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania and Trump wins Georgia, Arizona and Nevada, the end result of Nebraska’s 2nd District may doubtless tip the steadiness and maintain the race from ending in a 269-269 tie. (In such a situation, the Home of Representatives would resolve the winner.)
“If you happen to consider within the Electoral School, which I do, then why does it make sense for Nebraska to not be following that very same thought?” mentioned Becky Rasmussen, who stood in line Tuesday evening for the rally Kirk and his group, Turning Level Motion, held at Lord of Hosts Church in Omaha. “We’re some of the conservative states and for (Biden) to win even part of this state is simply very disappointing.”
Whereas Kirk implored Trump supporters to maintain making use of stress on the governor and Republican lawmakers, it stays removed from sure that such efforts will probably be profitable, even in deep-red Nebraska.
To prevail within the state’s unicameral Legislature, 33 senators must assist a measure to resist a Democratic-led filibuster. Advisers to each events instructed CNN it was unlikely, except the lobbying marketing campaign from Trump supporters modified the present political dynamic.
“It’s not concerning the Biden or Trump marketing campaign. It’s about democracy and whether or not or not we’re prepared to guard it,” mentioned Tony Vargas, a Democratic state senator who represents a part of the 2nd District and is making his second bid for the seat this 12 months. “Nebraskans actually care about this. It’s why we protected it for thus lengthy.”
Republican Rep. Don Bacon, the four-term incumbent on this Biden district, mentioned he helps altering the state’s election regulation.
“If we’re one in every of two of fifty states, I don’t suppose it really works,” Bacon mentioned. “I believe it undermines the affect of Nebraska. I believe it ought to be standardized.”
Nebraska Republicans have escalated their efforts in response to the persuasion from conservative activists and Trump allies.
“Yet another vote. Yet another vote. Yet another vote,” Eric Underwood, the chairman of the Nebraska Republican Social gathering, mentioned Tuesday evening as he led rallygoers in a chant.
The argument from Trump loyalists quantities to a uncommon, open acknowledgment that the previous president is locked in a bitterly shut race with Biden. In 2016, Trump swept all five of Nebraska’s electoral votes, which Mitt Romney additionally did in 2012. In 2008, Barack Obama gained the 2nd District on his method to a nationwide landslide.
If the Nebraska regulation was modified earlier than November, Republican leaders consider it could successfully minimize off one path to victory for Biden and open up new alternatives for Trump in a race that might be determined by the best – and most arcane – of margins.
Pillen agreed to name for a particular session on the situation that the election invoice have the mandatory assist within the state’s 49-member Legislature. The GOP has a big majority, however the destiny of the potential measure is unclear, and your complete matter may land in a authorized battle if election guidelines had been modified in the midst of the marketing campaign.
Whereas Kirk amped up supporters in Omaha, state lawmakers about an hour away in Lincoln had been wrapping up their enterprise for the 12 months regardless of rising calls for from the correct to revisit the regulation.
“If there’s radio silence,” Kirk mentioned, “we’ll do the following occasion on the steps of the Capitol.”
Kirk’s efforts obtained a lift Wednesday morning when newly put in Republican Nationwide Committee chair Michael Whatley known as on the Nebraska GOP to behave.
“President Trump and Republicans are united: Nebraska ought to shift to a winner-take-all system for its electoral votes,” Whatley said on social media. “Let’s get this carried out.”
The Biden marketing campaign already has its eye on Nebraska, sending second gentleman Doug Emhoff to Omaha to open a Democratic Social gathering workplace final month. On the wall is a pointed message painted in blue: “Shield the blue dot.”
“They’ll’t have this blue dot,” mentioned McKesson, the manager director of the Nebraska Democrats, sending a message to Republicans. “In order for you it, come work onerous for it, however we’re going to struggle to maintain it.”
CNN’s Manu Raju contributed to this report.