In a significant blow to Donald Trump and his Republican allies, a critical Omaha state senator announced he will not support efforts to overturn Nebraska’s unique electoral vote allocation, which awards votes by congressional district instead of a winner-take-all approach.

State Sen. Mike McDonnell publicly rejected a last-minute push to change this 30-year-old law, emphasizing that now is not the time for such a drastic shift just weeks ahead of the November election.

“After deep consideration, it is clear to me that 43 days from Election Day is not the moment to make this change,” McDonnell stated, affirming his opposition to any alterations to Nebraska’s electoral college system before the upcoming election. “I have notified Governor (Jim) Pillen that I will not change my long-held position and will oppose any attempted changes to our electoral college system before the 2024 election.”

“Nebraska voters, not politicians of either party, should have the final say on how we pick a President,” McDonnell added. “I want to thank the voters who reached out to me for engaging in democracy and for showing America who Nebraskans are – fiercely independent, filled with pride about our great city of Omaha, and deeply devoted to the promise of American democracy.”

This decision marks a significant setback for Republicans, who had hoped McDonnell would spearhead a change. His stance reinforces that Nebraska voters, not political maneuvering, should decide how presidential elections are conducted.

The battle over Nebraska’s electoral votes has intensified, particularly focusing on the critical electoral vote from the 2nd Congressional District, known as Omaha’s blue dot. This district has become a focal point in the razor-thin race between Trump and Kamala Harris, with both sides recognizing its strategic importance.

Despite Trump’s previous sweep of all five Nebraska electoral votes in 2016, his grip weakened in 2020 when he lost the Omaha-area seat to Joe Biden. The Harris campaign is now investing heavily to reclaim that vote, launching grassroots efforts throughout the city as they seek to secure a vital electoral win.

Trump’s urgent push to change the state’s election law was highlighted when he called into a meeting of state senators last week, but McDonnell’s firm stance illustrates a growing resistance against external pressures.

Nebraska’s Republican governor, Jim Pillen, remains open to the possibility of a special legislative session to consider changes, but only if there’s enough backing from fellow lawmakers. Past attempts to modify this unique electoral system have faltered, and McDonnell’s recent declaration likely shuts the door on such efforts for this election cycle.

Neither Pillen nor the Trump campaign has yet commented on McDonnell’s decision, which could have far-reaching implications for the upcoming presidential election.