Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

How One Man’s Vote in Nebraska Could Change the Presidential Election
The New York Times ^ | Sept. 20, 2024, 8:16 p.m. ET | Jonathan Weisman and Reid J. Epstein

Posted on 09/21/2024 12:11:40 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

In Eastern Nebraska, far from the presidential battleground states, a drama is playing out that could, in a perfectly plausible November scenario, have history-altering repercussions for the nation’s future and the next president — and it may all come down to one man.

A single Republican state senator from Omaha, Mike McDonnell, has so far stood firm against a push by former President Donald J. Trump, national Republicans and the Nebraska G.O.P. to change Nebraska from a state that divides its electoral votes by congressional district to one that awards all of them to the statewide winner. Maine is the only other state without a winner-take-all system.

If Mr. McDonnell buckles, two other Republican senators in Nebraska’s unicameral legislature who have also not yet committed to changing Nebraska’s system are likely to follow his lead, according to a number of Republicans and Democrats involved in the discussions going on at the State Capitol.

The tumbling dominoes would almost certainly give the single electoral vote of Omaha and its suburbs, which Vice President Kamala Harris is favored to win, to Mr. Trump.

That might not sound like much, but if Ms. Harris were to win the so-called blue wall — Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin — while losing every other battleground state, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina, that one electoral vote would be the difference between a 270-268 Electoral College victory for the vice president or a 269-269 tie. And in the event of a tie, the House of Representatives would determine the winner, not by raw votes of House members but by the support of each state delegation.

With more delegations in Republican control, Mr. Trump would almost certainly win.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Humor
KEYWORDS: arizona; demagogicparty; georgia; jonathanweisman; michigan; mikemcdonnell; nebraska; nevada; newyorkslimes; newyorktimes; northcarolina; omaha; pennsylvania; reidjepstein; winnertakeall; wisconsin
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last
A single Republican state senator from Omaha, Mike McDonnell, has so far stood firm against a push by former President Donald J. Trump, national Republicans and the Nebraska G.O.P. to change Nebraska from a state that divides its electoral votes by congressional district to one that awards all of them to the statewide winner.

The electoral college is a threat to kleptocracy.

1 posted on 09/21/2024 12:11:40 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

“”” A single Republican state senator from Omaha, Mike McDonnell, has so far stood firm against a push”””


Warren Buffett also funds GOP politicians when it is to his advantage.

So no surprise that McDonnell is from Omaha.


2 posted on 09/21/2024 12:15:19 PM PDT by Presbyterian Reporter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

What’s McDonnell’s problem?

The guy is going to cost Trump and Vance an electoral vote.


3 posted on 09/21/2024 12:19:23 PM PDT by unclebankster (Globalism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Presbyterian Reporter
Whatever happens, Mike McDonnell must be primaried and removed from the his position.

This is classic RINO grandstanding at its worst. I believe he was actually a democrat until last April.

4 posted on 09/21/2024 12:22:43 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (LORD, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

>> If the Republican buckles

>> If the Democrat affirms

#ing Rats


5 posted on 09/21/2024 12:37:29 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: unclebankster

Trump will win upwards of 310 EV. At least in this election it isn’t going to make a difference


6 posted on 09/21/2024 12:37:31 PM PDT by Fai Mao (The US government is run by pedophiles and Perverts for pedophiles and perverts.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Fai Mao; Governor Dinwiddie

I agree with FM that DJT will win outright, *and* I agree that this Omaha clown should be primaried, if not outright kicked out of office.


7 posted on 09/21/2024 12:40:37 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Fai Mao

I know Trump is going to win, but I’m getting greedy.


8 posted on 09/21/2024 12:40:59 PM PDT by unclebankster (Globalism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Fai Mao

A few months ago I felt Trump would lose....not now.


9 posted on 09/21/2024 12:51:56 PM PDT by rrrod (6)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: unclebankster

If he’s from Omaha what do you expect?


10 posted on 09/21/2024 12:52:39 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

So the Nebraska Legislature has 49 members.

33 members are Republicans

It takes 33 votes to override a filibuster

Omaha is basically the third congressional district.

So the snake senator from Omaha is refusing to change the law foolishly passed in the 1990’s.


11 posted on 09/21/2024 1:03:44 PM PDT by Presbyterian Reporter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Mike McDonnell (born January 15, 1966) is an American politician who serves in the Nebraska Legislature, representing the 5th district. He was a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party in 2024 after being censured by the Nebraska Democratic Party for voting for anti-abortion and anti-transgender legislation.

McDonnell is from Omaha as are most of the 15 Democrat Senators in Nebraska.

Warren Buffett makes sure he protects himself.


12 posted on 09/21/2024 1:19:52 PM PDT by Presbyterian Reporter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

republicans...always striving for 2nd place in a two man race.


13 posted on 09/21/2024 1:31:13 PM PDT by dadfly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
It’s unbelievable he won’t help to elect a Republican President!

Does anyone think for a second that a democrat would not help elect a democratic President if the situation was reversed? geeez

14 posted on 09/21/2024 1:58:19 PM PDT by volare737 (Diversity is something to be overcome, not celebrated.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: volare737

But would Maine change their process in response, and counter what Nebraska does?


15 posted on 09/21/2024 2:11:47 PM PDT by phil00071
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: phil00071

I have no idea, but that should have nothing to do with what Nebraska does.


16 posted on 09/21/2024 2:14:49 PM PDT by volare737 (Diversity is something to be overcome, not celebrated.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Sadly he’s a Democrat that switched parties for expediency. He’s a dead end road as far as voting with us on anything meaningful.


17 posted on 09/21/2024 2:36:08 PM PDT by Dragonspirit (CNN is the enemy. Ashli Babbitt is the hero.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: phil00071

“But would Maine change their process in response, and counter what Nebraska does?”

It is apparently too late for the state of Maine to change now.


18 posted on 09/21/2024 2:49:42 PM PDT by willk (Local news media. Just as big an enemy to this country as national media)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: rrrod
A few months ago I felt Trump would lose....not now.

I still feel he will. The level of unchecked fraud seem overwhelming. What gives you your confidence?

19 posted on 09/21/2024 3:52:07 PM PDT by Lizavetta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Lizavetta

Just a gut feeling. It’s over if Trump loses.


20 posted on 09/21/2024 4:11:43 PM PDT by rrrod (6)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson