Nebraska’s system of awarding a single electoral vote to the winner of each of its three congressional districts has long been a thorn in the side of the state’s Republicans.
On Tuesday, it was again evident why, with former Vice President Joe Biden claiming the Omaha area’s electoral vote, adding a crucial tally mark to the Democrat’s column in the race for the presidency.
The 2nd District last went to a Democratic presidential candidate in 2008, when then-Sen. Barack Obama won it and the presidency.
Since Nebraska adopted the proportional system in 1991, state GOP lawmakers have tried and failed at least 16 times to pass legislation that would return the state to a winner-take-all system, World-Herald archives show.
No specific plan is in the works to attempt to change Nebraska’s system, said Ryan Hamilton, executive director of the Nebraska Republican Party. But the issue has long been a legislative priority for the party, he said Wednesday.
Nebraska has a total of five electoral votes. Two are awarded to the statewide winner of the popular vote. The three others are awarded to the winner of each of the state’s three congressional districts.
Republican President Donald Trump won the statewide vote by nearly 20 percentage points, based on vote tallies posted Wednesday. That means, for 2020, Trump will pick up four electoral votes, two for the state’s popular vote and two for the state’s 1st and 3rd Districts.
Biden will get one electoral vote for the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District. Biden’s margin of victory over Trump was more than 6 percentage points in the 2nd District.
Hamilton said the proportional system is based on “arbitrary lines” that divide the congressional districts and encourages gerrymandering. Nebraska should adopt the system used by 48 other states and award all its electoral votes based on the statewide popular vote, he said. Maine also awards electoral votes by congressional district.
If the state Republican Party is unable to change the system through the Legislature, Hamilton floated the possibility of trying to get the issue on a statewide ballot to allow voters to decide.
“We know a vast majority of Nebraskans would support it, given how many of them are shut out of the process,” Hamilton said.
Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, said Wednesday that her party would fight any attempt to end the way Nebraska and Maine allocate electoral votes.
“Quite frankly, all states in the country should be following our lead on the way that we do our electoral votes,” she said. “By splitting our electoral votes, we make the state more competitive and are able to draw in the candidates to come and speak with voters.”
Then-Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha, a GOP sponsor of a winner-take-all bill in Nebraska in 2015, argued that the Republican-dominated state is at a disadvantage by not awarding all of its Electoral College votes to the statewide winner. Another senator said that winner-take-all systems reflect the will of the majority of voters.
A GOP effort in the Nebraska Legislature to change the state’s system leading up to the 2016 election failed, as did the most recent attempt in 2017.
In 2011, party leaders threatened to withdraw financial support for any Republican state senator who voted against the measure.
Critics of winner-take-all have said it reduces campaign interest in states like Nebraska, which are dominated by a single political party. Candidates from both parties are more likely to devote campaign time and resources in Nebraska under the current system, they’ve said.
The Legislature would most likely require 33 supportive state senators to overcome a filibuster of such a proposal.
World-Herald staff writer Aaron Sanderford contributed to this report.
Nebraska on Election Day 2020

People line up to vote at Omaha South High Magnet School on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

A woman who did not give her name carries a sign urging respect at 13th and Bancroft Streets in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

People mark voting ballots at the Omaha Community Playhouse in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

An election official wipes down a ballot sleeve at Dundee Elementary School in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Bancroft Elementary School in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Pablo Perez, of Omaha, votes at Bancroft Elementary School in South Omaha on Tuesday.

Jalen and Sydney Gibbons, of Omaha, vote with their 1-year-old twins, Isla and Greyson, by their side at Bancroft Elementary School in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Blue Line Coffee posts a sign along Underwood Avenue that reads "If you voted your drink is free - Compliments of Eastman for Congress" in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

A person votes at the Omaha Community Playhouse in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Sidewalk chalk messages at 13th and Bancroft Streets in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Lori Ham, an election official, disinfests a ballot sleeve at Omaha South High Magnet School on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

People line up and vote at Omaha South High Magnet School on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Derrick Combs, of Omaha, voters at Omaha South High Magnet School on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

A voter arrives to Omaha South High Magnet School on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Voters occupy all the booths inside Bethel Lutheran Church, 1312 S. 45th St., on Tuesday. There were close to 30 people in line when the doors opened.

A polling place, Wellspring Lutheran Church in Papillion on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Derek Rau and his service dog Voodoo walk to a polling booth in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Volunteer Katie Jennings sets up the voting booths inside Bethel Lutheran Church located at 1312 South 45th Street on Tuesday, November 03, 2020.

Jennifer Dirks, of Papillion, fills out her ballot at a polling place in Papillion on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

A person talks on the phone while voting inside the Walnut Hill Elementary School gymnasium in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Molly Loesche, left, and Sheryl Mason initial ballots before voting starts inside Bethel Lutheran Church located at 1312 South 45th Street on Tuesday, November 03, 2020.

Alayna Gonzalez, 8 months, sits with her dad, Hector Gonzalez, of Omaha, while waiting for her mom, Ana Gayton (not pictured), to finish voting so he can take his turn at the Disabled American Veterans hall in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

People vote at the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Stickers are available fore voters at a polling place in Papillion on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Volunteer Katie Jennings puts on an "Election Official" badge on before the start of voting inside Bethel Lutheran Church located at 1312 South 45th Street on Tuesday, November 03, 2020.

People vote in the Walnut Hill Elementary School gymnasium in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Voters fill out their ballots at a polling place in Papillion on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Some of the close to 30 people who lined waiting to vote at Bethel Lutheran Church located at 1312 S. 45th St. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.

Brandon Wood, an election official, places a ballot in a secure box at a polling place, Wellspring Lutheran Church in Papillion on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Volunteers Zane Jones, left, and Jay Mason put a "polling place" sign outside of Bethel Lutheran Church located at 1312 South 45th Street on Tuesday, November 03, 2020.

Poll workers keep track of voters in Papillion on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

A person stands behind a polling place sign while talking on the phone at Walnut Hill Elementary School in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

People vote in the showroom of Lexus of Omaha at 13025 W Dodge Rd on Tuesday, November 03, 2020.

A voter hands off his ballot to a poll worker in the showroom of Lexus of Omaha at 13025 W Dodge Rd on Tuesday, November 03, 2020.

Volunteer Thomas Jackson puts tape marks down for so people can stand six feet apart while waiting in line to vote at Bethel Lutheran Church located at 1312 South 45th Street on Tuesday, November 03, 2020. The polling place wouldn't open for another 20 minutes but people were already showing up. Close to thirty had lined up by the time the doors opened.

Volunteer Jay Mason puts a "polling place" sign outside of Bethel Lutheran Church located at 1312 South 45th Street on Tuesday, November 03, 2020.

A voting booth waiting for voters inside Bethel Lutheran Church located at 1312 South 45th Street on Tuesday, November 03, 2020.

Volunteer Jay Mason throws way political signs that were too close to the polling place at Bethel Lutheran Church located at 1312 South 45th Street on Tuesday, November 03, 2020.

People vote at the Disabled American Veterans hall in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Sal Johnson, an election official, goes over a list of names at the Disabled American Veterans hall in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Matt Carroll, of Omaha, votes as children's art is displayed behind him at the Kids Can Community Center in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Rep. Don Bacon greeted drivers at 72nd Street and Highway 370 in Papillion.

Democrat Kara Eastman's husband Scott, left, crosses the street while holding a yard sign on the corner of 24th and L Streets in South Omaha on Tuesday.

A shadow of a supporter of Rep. Don Bacon as she waves sign at the intersection of 72nd Street and Hwy 370 in Papillion on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Kara Eastman and other Democrats gathered at 24th and L Streets in South Omaha Tuesday morning.

Hannah Sobczyk, 16, of Papillion, waves a sign in support of Rep. Don Bacon as a tractor goes by the intersection of 72nd Street and Hwy 370 in Papillion on Election Day.

NE-02 Democratic U.S. House candidate Kara Eastman, right, stands with supporters on the corner of 24th and L Streets in South Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

District 2 candidate Kara Eastman waves to passing cars on the corner of 24th and L Streets in South Omaha on Tuesday.

Nebraska State Senator Tony Vargas shields his eyes from the sun while crossing the corner of 24th and L Streets in South Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Aidan Hansen, 15, of Papillion, waves a sign in support of Rep. Don Bacon at the intersection of 72nd Street and Hwy 370 in Papillion on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

NE-02 Democratic U.S. House candidate Kara Eastman, center, has a coffee with staffers at Archetype Coffee in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Democratic U.S. House candidate Kara Eastman, right, leaves Archetype Coffee to continue on the campaign trail in Omaha on Tuesday.

Hannah Sobczyk, 16, of Papillion, waves a sign in support of Rep. Don Bacon at the intersection of 72nd Street and Hwy 370 in Papillion on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

State Sen. Tony Vargas holds his own campaign sign on the corner of 24th and L Streets in South Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Supporters of Rep. Don Bacon wave signs at the intersection of 72nd Street and Highway 370 in Papillion.

Democratic Kara Eastman, center, waves to passing cars on the corner of 24th and L Streets in South Omaha on Tuesday.

Rep. Don Bacon, right, and supporters wave signs at the intersection of 72nd Street and Highway 370 in Papillion on Tuesday.

Rep. Don Bacon votes at his polling place, Wellspring Lutheran Church in Papillion on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
reece.ristau@owh.com, 402-444-1127, @reecereports