Graham hopes Nebraska will change system that could give electoral vote to Harris

Washington — Sen. Lindsey Graham said Thursday he's hopeful Nebraska volition alteration the mode it apportions its Electoral College votes successful the upcoming election, fixed the anticipation that the statesmanlike predetermination could travel down to a azygous electoral vote.

"I anticipation they volition let winner-take-all," Graham, a South Carolina Republican, told reporters connected Thursday. Graham met with Nebraska's politician and authorities lawmakers to sermon moving the authorities to a winner-take-all electoral strategy the time before. "Trump's going to triumph the authorities by 20 points."

In 48 states, electoral votes are allocated based upon which campaigner wins the bulk of votes successful the state. Nebraska, on with Maine, are the exception, apportioning their electoral votes based partially upon legislature districts. And successful the Cornhusker State, that could mean Vice President Kamala Harris could travel distant with a azygous electoral ballot from an Omaha-area district.

Graham said it's "very reasonable" for Nebraska to propulsion for a alteration to the electoral ballot strategy present due to the fact that "the full destiny of the state and the satellite could hinge connected 1 electoral vote." 

"I was gladsome to spell retired and speech astir the satellite arsenic I spot it," Graham said of his travel to Nebraska. "I anticipation the radical successful Nebraska volition recognize this whitethorn travel down to a azygous electoral vote. And I conscionable don't judge a Harris presidency is bully for Nebraska."

Sen. Lindsey Graham astatine a quality league astatine the U.S. Capitol connected June 20, 2024, successful Washington, D.C.  Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Graham said Nebraska GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts and Gov. Jim Pillen asked him to marque the trip. 

"I perfectly judge successful going to winner-take-all, and I encouraged Lindsey spell to Nebraska," Ricketts told reporters Thursday, adding that it's "certainly a possibility" that the predetermination comes down to a azygous Electoral College vote, "which is wherefore we request to person victor instrumentality each successful Nebraska."

Ricketts argued that not having a winner-take-all strategy disenfranchises agrarian voters. And helium praised Graham arsenic "a large spokesperson" for the change, adding that "he's precise savvy astir wherefore we request to marque definite that each of our voters person an accidental to person their voices heard."

Former President Donald Trump would astir surely payment from the alteration successful electoral apportionment. The alteration would necessitate enactment from the authorities legislature. And Pillen said successful a connection past week that he's supportive of the change, which would grant each 5 Electoral College votes to whichever campaigner wins the bulk of enactment successful the state, alternatively than the 2 that are linked to the fashionable ballot successful the authorities astatine present.

"As I person besides made clear, I americium consenting to convene the Legislature for a peculiar league to hole this 30-year-old occupation earlier the 2024 election," the politician said, though helium noted that helium indispensable archetypal person denotation that there's capable enactment among authorities senators. Early voting successful Nebraska begins connected Oct. 1, but the caput of authorities said a power to a winner-take-all strategy could beryllium implemented anytime earlier Election Day connected Nov. 5, according to a study from KOLN.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer during a quality league connected Thursday accused the GOP of moving to alteration the rules due to the fact that "they can't triumph legitimately."

"They're precise disquieted astir the election, arsenic they should be," Schumer said.