Nebraska governor admits defeat in GOP push for electoral vote reform

Driving the news: Pointing to state Sen. Mike McDonnell's (R) announcement that he would not join the Republican push, Pillen said the effort could not reach the 33-member threshold needed to overcome a filibuster.

• "Given everything at stake for Nebraska and our country, we have left every inch on the field to get this done," the Republican governor said in a statement, calling McDonnell's refusal to vote for a winner-take-all system "profoundly disappointing."
• In a statement released Monday, McDonnell contended that "now, 43 days from Election Day, is not the moment" to overhaul the system of allocating votes.
• McDonnell joined the 15 Democrats and one Independent in the Nebraska Senate who said they would not support the effort.

State of play: Nebraska's second congressional district has changed party hands in recent presidential elections. President Biden and former President Obama won it in 2020 and 2008, while Mitt Romney and Trump took it in 2012 and 2016.

• Vice President Kamala Harris is currently besting Trump in polls, and the district could be the electoral vote to tip a possible tie in her favor.

Catch up quick: The effort, which was sidelined by a procedural hurdle before the legislature's session ended, picked up recent momentum after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) met with Pillen and other Republican lawmakers to push for the change.

• Graham said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" that there was a 50-50 chance the switch-up would be successful.

What we're watching: Though Pillen's statement effectively confirms the current electoral map will remain intact ahead of the 2024 election, the push may arise again.

• McDonnell encouraged Pillen and his fellow lawmakers to pass a constitutional amendment during next year's session, allowing the citizens of Nebraska to "once and for all decide this issue the way it should be decided — on the ballot."

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