Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has announced that he will not pursue efforts to change Nebraska's unique electoral vote system ahead of the 2024 election to benefit former President Donald Trump. The proposed change would have made Nebraska a winner-takes-all state, potentially boosting Trump's chances in the state. Governor Pillen stated that he was unable to secure the necessary 33 votes to avoid a filibuster in the legislature, ultimately leading to the abandonment of the plan.

Currently, Nebraska divides its Electoral College votes, with two going to the statewide popular vote winner and one to the winner in each congressional district. Changing to a winner-takes-all system would have directly impacted the 2nd District, an Omaha-based swing seat that has leaned blue in recent elections. Governor Pillen expressed his disappointment in not being able to garner enough support for the change, highlighting the importance of the decision for both Nebraska and the country.

Republican State Senator Mike McDonnell's refusal to support the switch dealt a significant blow to the efforts of Trump's allies. McDonnell, who recently switched his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican and is eyeing a mayoral run in Omaha next year, emphasized the need for a constitutional amendment to be passed during next year's session so that voters can have a say in the proposed change. This stance was met with criticism from former President Trump and Governor Pillen, who expressed their disappointment in McDonnell's decision.