From exploring mid-decade redistricting that could make a key congressional district less competitive to changing the way electoral college votes are allocated, rightwing lawmakers in Nebraska have signaled their willingness to use every tool at their disposal to cement their own power and Donald Trump’s.
Nebraska has five electoral votes; two are assigned to the winner of the statewide vote and one to the winner of each of the state’s three congressional districts. This unusual allocation of electoral votes means that while the two congressional districts went to the rightwing, Nebraska voters gave their Second Congressional District vote to President Biden in 2020 and to Vice President Harris in 2024.
For decades, rightwing lawmakers have worked to change these rules to move to a winner-take-all system. If that happens in Nebraska, in a narrow election, this single electoral vote could make the difference between winning and losing the presidency. This is why, even before 2024, state lawmakers in Nebraska have been pressured to move to winner-take-all.
Right now, there are two rightwing lawmakers who are opposed to adopting a winner-take-all system. But we can’t rely on those lawmakers to hold out indefinitely against increased pressure from the right. That’s why we’re working to build a stronger buffer in Nebraska.
State lawmakers determined to protect the voices of voters need to hold 17 seats — the threshold for maintaining filibusters and preventing a supermajority in the legislature from changing the way Nebraskans vote, including how electoral college votes are assigned.
In 2024, the last time half the legislature was up for election, we fell short of achieving this goal by a single seat. The rightwing won that seat by just four points, even though Trump won the state by 20 points.
Nebraska remains only one seat away from that threshold. In 2026, we’re determined to change that.
With half of the legislature’s seats up for election this November, we believe a robust candidate recruitment program and experienced campaign staff who have a proven track record of winning tough races, coupled with an unpopular rightwing governor running for reelection and a favorable national environment, will make it possible to reach the critical 17-seat threshold.That’s why we’re investing now to win the races that will be key to electing lawmakers who will use every lever of power to preserve representative democracy.
Half of Nebraska’s state legislative seats were up for election in 2024. The States Project invested in key races to defend the 17-seat threshold that pro-democracy lawmakers need in order to stave off rightwing bills. Unfortunately, the rightwing won the key seat by 4 points.
With half of the legislature up for election in 2022, the minority’s current 17 seats were right at the threshold — one-third of the lawmakers in the legislature — to block emergency policies from being enacted. There was no room for error: a single seat shifting would give the rightwing a supermajority and unchecked power in the legislature. Preventing the supermajority came down to one of the tightest races we worked on in 2022 which was decided by just 41 voters.
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State lawmakers have the power to enact policies that can protect millions of Americans, and the overall direction of the country, from the worst impacts of a second Trump presidency.
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