A proposed Nebraska bill would cut off one of Biden’s easiest pathways to 270 electoral votes, but Republicans face an uphill battle to get the proposal passed before the looming end of the legislative session.
A proposal known as LB 764 would repeal a 1991 state law that splits the state’s five Electoral College votes based on how each candidate performs in the state’s three congressional districts. The law has twice sent one of Nebraska’s electoral votes to a Democrat presidential candidate thanks to the 2nd District, which contains Omaha. The 2nd District voted for Biden in 2020 and for Obama in 2008.
Nebraska’s split vote could end up being crucial. If Biden were to win Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin but lose Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona, for example, he could still reach 270 — so long as he received one of Nebraska’s electoral votes.
Biden campaign officials have privately spoken with state Democrats about the possibility of the legislation passing, according to Politico.
“When you look at the map, that one electoral vote really matters in combination with other things,” Jim Messina, who helped run Barack Obama’s reelection campaign, told the outlet. “The easiest pathway to victory has always been the three Midwestern states plus Nebraska. They’d have to find something else too.”
The legislative session officially ends April 18 but there are just five working days left in session, and fewer days than that to get the bill before the full legislature, according to Politico.
