How One Man’s Vote in Nebraska Could Change the Presidential Election

In Eastern Nebraska, acold from the statesmanlike battleground states, a play is playing retired that could, successful a perfectly plausible November scenario, person history-altering repercussions for the nation’s aboriginal and the adjacent president — and it whitethorn each travel down to 1 man.

A azygous Republican authorities legislator from Omaha, Mike McDonnell, has truthful acold stood steadfast against a push by erstwhile President Donald J. Trump, nationalist Republicans and the Nebraska G.O.P. to alteration Nebraska from a authorities that divides its electoral votes by legislature territory to 1 that awards each of them to the statewide winner. Maine is the lone different authorities without a winner-take-all system.

If Mr. McDonnell buckles, 2 different Republican senators successful Nebraska’s unicameral legislature who person besides not yet committed to changing Nebraska’s strategy are apt to travel his lead, according to a fig of Republicans and Democrats progressive successful the discussions going connected astatine the State Capitol.

The tumbling dominoes would astir surely springiness the azygous electoral ballot of Omaha and its suburbs, which Vice President Kamala Harris is favored to win, to Mr. Trump.

That mightiness not dependable similar much, but if Ms. Harris were to triumph the alleged bluish partition — Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin — portion losing each different battleground state, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina, that 1 electoral ballot would beryllium the quality betwixt a 270-268 Electoral College triumph for the vice president oregon a 269-269 tie. And successful the lawsuit of a tie, the House of Representatives would find the winner, not by earthy votes of House members but by the enactment of each authorities delegation.

With much delegations successful Republican control, Mr. Trump would astir surely win.

As of Friday, Mr. McDonnell, who is barred by Nebraska’s word limits instrumentality from seeking re-election, had not changed his position.