Trump praises Nebraska governor for support of ‘winner-take-all’ electoral system

Former President Trump lauded Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) for endorsing a “winner-take-all” system for the state’s Electoral College votes Tuesday. Switching Nebraska’s vote count would bring it in line with much of the rest of the country and could help Trump gain an extra electoral college vote this November.

“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,” Trump said Tuesday in a Truth Social post. 

“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,” he continued. “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!”

State legislators introduced a measure to implement the winner-take-all system, which Pillen endorsed Tuesday, in January 2023 and carried it over to the 2024 legislative session.

“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,” Pillen said of the bill. “I call upon fellow Republicans in the Legislature to pass this bill to my desk so I can sign it into law.”

Only Nebraska and Maine assign Electoral College votes by district. In most elections, Republicans take two and Democrats take one of the state’s districts, though the third is tightly contested.

If the bill were to go into effect for the 2024 election, it could cost President Biden an Electoral College vote. Former President Trump won about 58 percent of the vote in Nebraska in 2020, meaning the GOP candidate would get the state’s entire slate of five electoral votes in a winner-take-all system.