Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers of Lincoln raised the possibility Tuesday that the special legislative session on redistricting could end early and without accomplishing its purpose.

"As an Omahan, I would love to have two members in Congress," Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts said.

A World-Herald analysis found that none of lawmakers' redistricting plans would have changed the outcome of Nebraska's elections in 2020. But they would have narrowed, or padded, the margins.

Nebraska lawmakers headed back to the negotiating tables Friday after Republicans failed to break a filibuster against their congressional redistricting plan.

An opinion issued Thursday said the bill is "not sufficiently related to, germane to and naturally connected with" the job of redrawing district boundaries to be considered during the session.

Pleas to protect Nebraska's rural legislative districts dominated Tuesday at the first of three public hearings on proposals for redrawing political boundaries.

The Legislature's Redistricting Committee introduced competing Republican and Democratic versions of the redistricting plans but will have to settle on one to advance to the full Legislature. 

Increasing the Legislature's size could prevent rural areas from losing lawmakers during redistricting. But it might not be legal for senators to consider the bill during the current special session.

Both political parties have their own proposals for redrawing legislative and congressional district boundaries. Lawmakers are taking sides largely based on party affiliation.