The Change That Could Ensure Donald Trump’s Win in Nebraska Is ’50/50′ – Lindsey Graham

South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham described the chances of Nebraska changing the way it distributes Electoral College votes before the November election as “50/50.”

Graham is among several Trump supporters pushing Nebraska to move to a first-past-the-post system and recently traveled to the state to meet with GOP lawmakers to discuss moving forward with the change.

Currently, Nebraska divides its five Electoral College votes into one vote for the winner of each of the state’s three congressional districts, with two votes going to the presidential candidate who wins the statewide popular vote.

The system change, which gives the winner of the statewide popular vote the entire Electoral College vote, could have a major impact on the tight race between Kamala Harris and the former president. The vice president is currently expected to get one Electoral College vote by winning Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, as President Joe Biden did in 2020.

In this scenario, Harris could reach 270 Electoral College votes by simply winning the three key so-called “blue wall” states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, barring any surprise results elsewhere in November.

If Trump were to win all five of Nebraska’s electors in a first-past-the-post system, as well as the key states of North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada, the election would end in a 269-269 tie. In that scenario, the president would be chosen by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which favors Trump.

Speaking to NBC Meeting with the pressGraham discussed the likelihood that Nebraska would vote to change to a winner-take-all system, emphasizing the importance of such a change in the 2024 race.

“This is a very close election. Sixty-three days ago, (Senate Majority Leader) Chuck Schumer led a coup to overthrow Joe Biden, and he’s telling me, or telling any other Republican, what we should do,” Graham said.

“If the law is changed in Nebraska, it won’t be over a phone call in the middle of the night. It will be through a democratic process. The entire federal delegation from Nebraska, the members of the House and two senators, want this change.

“For my friends in Nebraska, this one electoral vote could be the difference between Harris becoming president or not, and she is a disaster for Nebraska and the world,” Graham said.

Host Kristen Welker dismissed claims that Democrats staged a “coup” against Biden, who ended his re-election campaign in July following his poor performance in CNN’s presidential debate, because the party has the “right to change” who leads the ticket.

In response, Graham said, “Nebraska, too.”

Asked what he thought the chances were of such a change happening, Graham replied: “50/50, give or take two people.”

Nebraska state Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha, who switched from Democrat to Republican in April, recently said he opposes moving to a winner-take-all system.

Graham’s office has been contacted by email for comment.

Nebraska, a Republican stronghold, changed its Electoral College system for the 1992 presidential election. Maine, a historically blue state, is the only other state that has not implemented a first-past-the-post system in presidential elections.

All five Republicans representing Nebraska in Congress support a winner-take-all system.

Nebraska Republican Gov. Jim Pillen said he would call a special session to vote on a change if it received the support of 33 Republican senators needed to clear the filibuster threshold.

In a statement, the Nebraska Democratic Party said voters “don’t need out-of-state interests telling us to change the way we’ve done things for decades, especially when the ballots have already been sent out.”

“We are proud of the state senators who have consistently and steadfastly defended the right of Nebraskans to have a voice in our electoral process and will continue to do so,” the statement added.