Kamala Harris wins Nebraska’s 2nd congressional district electoral vote

On Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris secured the Electoral College vote for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. She beat former President Donald Trump in this district, which includes Omaha and its nearby suburbs. The district has been a Democratic stronghold, having supported Barack Obama in 2008 and Joe Biden in 2020.

Nebraska is one of only two states that split their Electoral College votes. Unlike most states that give all their votes to the statewide winner, Nebraska divides them by congressional district. Maine is the other state that uses this method.

Harris’s win in Nebraska’s 2nd District was declared by the Associated Press at 12:08 a.m. EST. Even though Nebraska is typically a Republican state, it has gained importance in presidential elections. 

The unique way Nebraska counts votes makes the district a key player, especially with tighter election maps in recent years.

Since 1992, Nebraska has used the district-based system to allocate Electoral College votes. This system seemed unimportant for a long time. But things changed in 2008 when Barack Obama won the Omaha-based district. Joe Biden repeated this in 2020. This system allows a candidate to win one electoral vote from the district, even if they lose the state overall.

In the 2024 election, every vote counts more than ever. Nebraska’s single Electoral College vote could make a difference in a very close race. If Harris wins key swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, along with Nebraska’s 2nd District, she could secure enough votes to win the election.

However, if Harris loses Nebraska’s 2nd District, it could lead to an Electoral College tie. In that case, the House of Representatives would decide the winner, with each state casting one vote. Republicans currently control more state delegations, which could lead them to choose Trump, even if Harris wins the popular vote.

This high-stakes situation led some Republicans to push for a change in Nebraska’s system to a “winner-takes-all” approach. However, this proposal was blocked by a state legislator, keeping the district-based system intact.

Nebraska’s electoral method stands out because it gives more power to individual districts. This system has sparked interest in other states, as many people wonder if a similar approach could work elsewhere. 

The Constitution doesn’t require a single method for allocating electoral votes. States have experimented with different systems over the years, from legislatures choosing electors to the “winner-takes-all” method used by most states.