In a recent development, sources have revealed that former President Donald Trump allegedly made a phone call to pressure Nebraska State Senator Tom Brewer to revive a winner-take-all system of awarding Electoral College votes for the presidency. The call reportedly took place in the waning days of the 2024 legislative session and was part of a weeklong pressure campaign by Republicans.

According to sources, Trump urged Senator Brewer, who chairs the State Legislature's Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, to take action to introduce a winner-take-all bill for debate. However, Brewer explained that it was too late to vote a bill out of a committee and get it passed this year. Furthermore, the Speaker of the Legislature stated that it was also too late to amend a bill into another bill.

Reportedly, following Brewer's response, Trump allegedly told the term-limited senator that his political career was over. Although Chris LaCivita, the co-manager of the Trump campaign, denied any recent conversation between Trump and anyone in Nebraska, three state senators claimed they heard about the call directly from Brewer.

The pressure campaign to change Nebraska's 33-year-old law, which awards a single Electoral College vote to the winners of the presidential popular vote in each congressional district, gained momentum on social media. Governor Jim Pillen joined the effort by calling on the Legislature to take up a bill to return to a winner-take-all system, similar to that used in 48 other states. Trump praised Pillen's support on social media, expressing hope that the Senate would support the bill.

However, it appears that the opportunity to change the Nebraska law during the regular 2024 session is diminishing. Despite this, LaCivita stated that Trump remains "100% committed" to getting the law changed, suggesting the possibility of a special session.

Nebraska and Maine are the only states that allocate Electoral College votes by congressional district, in addition to statewide winner-take-all votes. The current system has caused concerns among Republicans, as it has resulted in Democrats winning the Omaha area's 2nd Congressional District in recent elections.

A bill to return Nebraska to a winner-take-all system, Legislative Bill 764, introduced by Senator Loren Lippincott, is currently held up in the Government Committee due to a lack of votes. An attempt to amend the bill into another bill also failed to gain enough support.

Although there has been talk of a special session to address the issue, Governor Pillen stated that he would only call for such a session if he had 33 senators willing to support it. The Speaker of the Legislature, Senator John Arch, announced that the deadline to amend bills into one another had passed, adding further obstacles to reviving the issue in the regular session.

Jane Kleeb, the chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, criticized Trump and conservative talk-show host Charlie Kirk for their involvement in the pressure campaign, stating that they were creating chaos and hindering the legislative process.

As the 2024 legislative session in Nebraska draws to a close, the future of the winner-take-all system for Electoral College votes remains uncertain. The issue has sparked heated debate and divided opinions among lawmakers, raising questions about the potential impact on future presidential elections.