How One Nebraskan GOP State Senator May Have Saved Democracy

By Dustin Rowles | News | September 24, 2024 |

By Dustin Rowles | News | September 24, 2024 |

At the risk of overstating, one Republican state senator in Nebraska stood his ground this week and, despite immense pressure from those within his own party, refused to comply with the demands of Donald Trump. This decision may have had significant implications for the 2024 election and the future of our democracy.

“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!’” Trump wrote on Truth Social in response to McDonnell’s refusal to support a proposal that could have impacted the 2024 Presidential election.

Here’s the situation: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have been focusing on three key battleground states — Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Winning these would nearly guarantee Harris the election, bringing her to 269 Electoral Votes, just shy of the 270 needed to win. This makes Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District crucial, as it allocates its votes differently from most states. Winning this district would give Harris the necessary votes to secure the presidency.

Last week, Trump and several Nebraska Republicans, including the state governor, pushed to change Nebraska’s unique split Electoral College system to a winner-take-all method, similar to 48 other states (and Maine, which allocates votes the same way as Nebraska). This would have resulted in an Electoral College tie at 269-269 if Harris won those three states, shifting the decision to the House of Representatives, where Trump would have had a decisive advantage because of the way votes are decided (each state gets one vote, meaning California’s 52 Congressional Reps get the same amount of votes as Montana’s two reps).

State Senator Mike McDonnell, who recently switched from Democrat to Republican, was the key vote needed to end the filibuster and pass the proposed change. He was a Democrat up until last year, when the party censured him for his position on abortion and trans rights. Nevertheless, despite being a Republican and holding some conservative social views, McDonnell opposed the change, stating that now was not the time to alter Nebraska’s Electoral College rules. His decision was pivotal in maintaining the current allocation system, preventing a scenario that could have dramatically impacted the 2024 election.

If Nebraska had adopted the proposed changes, Maine — the other state that allocates its Electoral Votes similarly — wouldn’t have been able to offset it, as it takes at least 90 days to modify its electoral process, far too long to impact the 2024 election. Meanwhile, Nebraska can change its distribution method right up until Election Day, meaning we must protect McDonell’s life at all costs.