The Nebraska Republican, who blocked a recent push in Congress to make it easier for former President Donald Trump to collect all five of the state’s electors, is joining independents whose victory could deny Republicans control of the Senate. I support the candidacy of the senator.
On October 12, Nebraska State Senator Mike McDonnell spoke in support of Nebraska’s independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn during Mr. Osborn’s speech. campaign rally According to , United Auto Workers Union President Sean Fein made headlines in Omaha. video footage Posted by the Osborne camp. McDonnell has decided to support his opponent, Republican Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer, and has also decided to oppose President Biden’s elimination of a single elector in the 2nd Congressional District. . won The 2020 presidential election has frustrated Nebraska Republicans, who have questioned McDonnell’s qualifications as a member of the party. (Related: Republican state senators pave the way for Trump to potentially lose by one electoral vote)
In April, McDonnell announced He became a Republican after being registered as a Democrat for over 40 years.
“If he was really a Republican, you would think he would do something to prove he’s a Republican,” former Omaha mayor and Nebraska Republican Rep. Hal Daub said in an interview with DCNF. spoke. “What have you done to prove to people that you’re really a Republican?”
“He should answer that question,” Daub added.
McDonnell did not respond to multiple requests for comment from DCNF.
“we have to do the work. Dan has stepped up,” McDonnell said. said osborne supporter At an election rally in Omaha. “He completed the job for one year. He was out there every day. ”
We held two consecutive meetings with UAW President Sean Fein. The people are ready to break with the status quo and put independents in the U.S. Senate. pic.twitter.com/q4DV2wzBSb
— Dan Osborn, Senate Independent (@OsbornForSenate) October 24, 2024
If Mr. Osborne defeats Mr. Fisher in a shocking upset, Senate Republicans would need to win three seats in other states to regain the Senate majority.
“Nebraska’s Senate race is currently the closest in the nation. Dan Osborn is tied with Republican Deb Fischer. This is our chance to get the most support.” Pro-Osborn Fundraiser sentence from left wing super PAC It said it was sent to Nebraska voters on Oct. 29. “Dunn plans to caucus with the Democratic Party as an independent. ” (Related article: “Don’t come close”: Flood of far-left dark money intensifies Nebraska Senate race)
Recent poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College from October 23rd to 26th. Found Osborne trails Fisher by just two points, with 5% of voters undecided.
Liberal black-finance groups are funding Mr. Osborne’s solo Senate bid, and the campaign is also raising money on ActBlue, a fundraising platform that specializes in electing Democratic and left-wing candidates.
Mr. McDonnell also has not announced his support for re-election of the four other Republicans who make up Nebraska’s federal delegation, nor have the state’s senators endorsed Mr. Trump. .
Following McDonnell’s decision to oppose Republican Gov. Jim Pillen’s planned special session to modify the winner-take-all allocation of electors, the state senator will He said so. said ABC News prime anchor Lindsay Davis said the legislative effort “doesn’t seem fair” 43 days after Election Day.
Nebraska is one of two states that could potentially split its electorate, which some say could be the blue dot that decides the election.
State Sen. Mike McDonnell joins us. @LinseyDavis As a former governor, he details his state’s election process. President Trump is calling for that to change. pic.twitter.com/Tobf6Ursis
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) September 24, 2024
Under Nebraska’s current electoral vote allocation, presidential candidates receive one vote for each congressional district they win, plus two votes for the person who receives the most votes statewide. Only Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District (the “blue dot”) is considered competitive, according to the Cook Political Report. Specify The district is a “lean Democratic Party.”
“Thank God for that guy from Omaha,” Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate Tim Walz said Mr. McDonnell made the remarks at a campaign event in New York on October 23, following his decision to join Democratic lawmakers in opposing the reform.
Instead, McDonnell asked Nebraska’s first chamber to consider a bill in next year’s legislative session that would change the state’s electoral vote counting system to winner-take-all. letter He explained his decision to oppose winner-take-all legislation to voters before the election.
Former President Trump, all five members of Nebraska’s federal delegation, and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. supported Efforts to change Nebraska’s electoral vote allocation to winner-take-all.
“It is past time for Nebraska to join 48 other states in adopting winner-take-all presidential elections,” Nebraska’s federal delegation wrote. joint letter “At the end of the day, we are Nebraskans first and foremost, not the representatives of Nebraska’s three congressional districts.”
graham said NBC’s “Meet the Press” reported that Omaha’s “one electoral vote could be the difference between Harris becoming president or not, and she would be a disaster for Nebraska and the world.” .
Some political experts believe that if Biden wins all states except Georgia, Nevada and Arizona in 2020, Trump will lose the “blue dot” of Nebraska. , claims it could be the key to preventing a 269-269 tie in the Electoral College.
“I think his actions offended a lot of people,” Daub said in an interview with DCNF. “If he had indicated to the governor that he would support it, the blue dot would have disappeared. ”
“It would have been better and much cheaper for everyone. Unfortunately, a Democrat-turned-Republican(?) state senator named Mike McDonnell, for no reason, Determined to thwart a big victory, Trump once again “grandstands!” I wrote It was reported in Truth Social on September 23, after Mr McDonnell announced that he would not support winner-take-all legislation. “I love Omaha and we won it in 2016. Looks like we have to win it again!!!”
New York Times-Siena College public opinion poll According to an Oct. 28 poll, Ms. Harris leads Mr. Trump by 12 points in Omaha.
Daub told DCNF that McDonnell is likely to announce his candidacy for Omaha mayor against Republican incumbent Jean Stothert, who is seeking a fourth term, in the coming days.
“There’s no question about that,” Daub told DCNF, noting that McDonnell has already hired a campaign manager.
The Osborne campaign did not respond to a DCNF inquiry about whether independent candidates support a winner-take-all push.
As for whether Nebraska’s “blue dot” will last into the next presidential election cycle, Daub told DCNF, “I think the time has come.” “That’s very welcome. The populist mindset has faded.”
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