Republicans are making their push for election season this year. On Wednesday, Nebraska State Sen. Mike McDonnell announced his switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, significantly bolstering the GOP’s position ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Speaking to NCN, McDonnell cited his pro-life stance and claimed punitive actions by the Democratic Party as his reasons for the change.
“When I ran for reelection in 2020 I was Pro-Life, said McDonnell. “I have asked the Democratic Party to respect my religious based Pro-Life position. Instead over the last year they have decided to punish me for being Pro-Life.”
“The Douglas County Democrats voted not to seat me as a delegate and not to share party resources with me because I am Pro-Life. The state Democratic Party voted to censure me because I am Pro-Life. Being a Christian a member of the Roman Catholic Church and Pro-Life is more important to me than being a registered Democrat.”
“Today I am changing my party affiliation to Republican,” he stated, pointing to a rift with his former party over abortion issues.
McDonnell’s switch hands the Republicans a robust 33-seat majority in the Nebraska Legislature, achieving a filibuster-proof majority that could be pivotal in legislative battles, particularly those concerning the state’s unique electoral college system.
This, a departure from the winner-takes-all approach used by most states, has been a point of contention and is seen as a critical factor that could influence the outcome of the 2024 presidential election in favor of the GOP and its frontrunner, former President Donald Trump.
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The significance of the political realignment cannot be understated, as it grants the Republican Party increased legislative leeway in Nebraska. Despite Nebraska’s Republican-leaning tendencies, the state’s system has enabled Democratic candidates to win an electoral vote from the Omaha district, as seen with Barack Obama in 2008 and Joe Biden in 2020.
This comes after Republican Governor Jim Pillen of Nebraska has vocally supported a legislative proposal that could alter the 2024 presidential election, should it come down to the wire.
Republicans in the state have aimed to shift Nebraska back to the winner-take-all system for allocating its electoral votes, a departure from its current method that creates division by congressional district.
McDonnell currently serves District 5 in the Nebraska Legislature, representing a portion of midtown Omaha. First elected in 2016 and then re-elected in 2020, he is currently serving his final term due to term limits.
In response to McDonnell’s change of party, Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb issued a statement:
“The Nebraska Democratic Party will continue to stand up for reproductive freedom and the human rights of the LGBTQ community. Our decision to censure Sen. McDonnell was never about him being a pro-life Catholic,” said Kleeb.
“Our decision was based on our party reaffirming our core values to protect women’s ability to make health decisions and to keep politicians out of our personal health decisions. We respect the ongoing work of Senator McDonnell on behalf of unions and his commitment to protect a fair electoral vote system we have in our state,” she finished.