Trump wants to deny Biden’s easiest reelection path by pushing a last-minute change in Nebraska’s election law

Former President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind a recent push to amend Nebraska’s election laws, a move that could impact President Joe Biden’s chances of securing a crucial Electoral College vote. Trump’s endorsement comes as Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen expressed support for a bill aimed at ending the state’s long-standing practice of allocating some electoral votes based on the popular vote in individual congressional districts.

Trump lauded Governor Pillen’s stance, praising it as “very smart” in a post on Truth Social, a platform associated with the former president. The proposed legislation has gained traction following a call from Charlie Kirk, a prominent Trump ally and the founder of Turning Point USA, urging Nebraska lawmakers to pass the bill before the end of the current legislative session.

Under the existing system, Nebraska awards its electoral votes by a mix of winner-takes-all statewide and by congressional district. Democrats have twice clinched victory in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, centered around the Omaha metro area, most recently in 2020. However, the remainder of the state leans heavily conservative, consistently favoring Republican nominees in presidential elections.

Governor Pillen emphasized that aligning Nebraska’s electoral process with the majority of other states would better reflect the intentions of the nation’s founders and ensure a unified voice in presidential elections. The potential amendment, if successful, could pose challenges for Biden’s re-election bid, particularly considering his reliance on securing victories in key battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and retaining the Omaha metro area district.

In a hypothetical scenario where Nebraska’s laws are amended, and Biden repeats his previous victories in the aforementioned states while also carrying the Omaha district, Trump could win states like Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada without securing the presidency. Instead, the Electoral College vote could result in a tie at 269-269, leading to a decision by the newly elected House of Representatives.

The move to alter Nebraska’s electoral laws underscores the ongoing political maneuvering aimed at shaping the electoral landscape, with potential ramifications for future presidential elections.