Red State Governor Backs Electoral Plan That Could Upend Biden's Path To Victory

On Tuesday, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R-NE) released a letter of support for LB 764, a bill that would transition Nebraska's current electoral vote allocation via each congressional district to a winner-take-all system. The move would allocate all five of the state's electoral votes to presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump in November, given that the state goes overwhelmingly for Republicans. In the 2020 election, Joe Biden won one electoral vote after winning Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, which centers around Omaha, by 6.5 percent. The governor's support of the legislation could drastically change the electoral map and eliminate the easiest path for Biden to win 270 electoral votes. 

The Nebraska Senate, which will end its session next week, is considering whether to take up the bill authored by Senator Loren Lippincott (R). The bill gained significant traction after TPUSA CEO Charlie Kirk urged his followers to contact Nebraska legislators and the governor. In response to the public pressure, Gov. Pillen released a statement that read, "I am a strong supporter of Senator Lippincott's winner-take-all bill (LB 764) and have been from the start. 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. I call upon fellow Republicans in the Legislature to pass this bill to my desk so I can sign it into law."

If the governor signs the legislation into law, Biden's path to reelection narrows dramatically. Under the current system, Democrats would only have to win the swing states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan in addition to Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. However, if the Cornhusker State decides to revert to a winner-take-all system, Biden would have to win an additional state - Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, or North Carolina - to win the presidency without the electoral college vote being tied. In a tie scenario where each candidate receives 269 electoral votes, the House of Representatives votes to decide who will be the next president.

As Republican voters across the midwestern state urge GOP lawmakers to make the switch, presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump expressed his support for Gov. Pillen's push, writing on Truth Social, "Governor Jim Pillen of Nebraska, a very smart and popular Governor, who has done some really great things, came out today with a very strong letter in support of returning Nebraska's Electoral Votes to a Winner-Take-All System. Most Nebraskans have wanted to go back to this system for a very long time, because it's what 48 other States do - It's what the Founders intended, and it's right for Nebraska. Thank you Governor for your bold leadership. Let's hope the Senate does the right thing. Nebraskans, respectfully ask your Senators to support this Great Bill!"

Nebraska, which is only joined by Maine in assigning electoral votes by congressional district, instituted its split vote system in 1991. Barack Obama was the first Democrat to win an electoral vote from the state in 2008. That feat was replicated again by Biden in 2020. The current system allocates two electoral votes to the winner of the state's popular vote and one electoral vote each for each of its three congressional districts. Nebraska's switch to the winner-take-all system could be instrumental in the election of Donald Trump in November, and Nebraska Republicans should take action.

If you are a resident of Nebraska, you can find contact information for your state senator here.

You can follow Sterling on X/Twitter here.