Trump spoke to Nebraska senator during Pillen’s winner-take-all meeting • Nebraska Examiner

LINCOLN — Former President Donald Trump spoke by phone Wednesday with at least one of the two dozen Republican state senators who attended Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s winner-take-all meeting at the Governor’s Mansion.

That meeting, which the governor called in support of shifting how Nebraska awards Electoral College votes in presidential elections, focused on potential holdouts, including the newest Republican, State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was also a guest at the meeting.

Republicans at the meeting said McDonnell hinted that he would like to find a way to yes but expressed some concerns. He told the Nebraska Examiner through a spokesman on Thursday that he was still a no vote, “as of today.”

The senator, who once led the firefighters union in Omaha, left the Democratic Party last spring after casting a decisive vote that helped Republicans pass a stricter abortion ban. Nebraska now bans most abortions after 12 weeks gestational age. He changed parties a month after being censured by the Nebraska Democratic Party.

Riepe spoke to Trump

State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, who attended Pillen’s gathering, confirmed to the Examiner on Friday that he was called into a separate side meeting with Pillen and Graham in the governor’s office at the mansion.

He said Pillen and Graham talked to him about the importance of making sure Trump secures all five of Nebraska’s Electoral College votes. National polls continue to indicate a tight race between Trump and the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Graham called Trump, who Riepe said spoke to him for a minute or two about the importance of winning the election and said he knew who Riepe was. Riepe, a former hospital administrator, said talking to Trump reminded him of the buzz when his hospital hosted singer Johnny Cash. 

“I think they just wanted me to know that he thought making the change was important, and they wanted me to feel that he was personally involved,” Riepe said of Trump. 

The Trump campaign had no immediate comment about the call. The Harris campaign declined to comment. 

Winner-take-all push gets help of Gov. Jim Pillen, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Trump

Republicans want the change

Republicans want to make the change this year in a special session Pillen has pledged to call soon if 33 senators publicly pledge that they are willing to support the change. Republicans need that many to overcome a promised filibuster.

Nebraska and Maine are the only states that award a single Electoral College vote to the winner in each congressional district, plus two votes to the statewide winner of the presidential popular vote. The other 48 states award all electoral votes to the statewide winner.

In a close race, a stray electoral vote from Nebraska’s Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District could matter. It is a slightly right-leaning swing district that has gone twice for Republicans and twice for Democrats in the past four presidential elections.

Riepe said Trump made no threatening remarks. The Governor’s Office did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the call. It is at least the second time this year that Trump has talked to a Nebraska state senator about winner-take-all.

State Sen. Tom Brewer, who represents north-central Nebraska, told several of his colleagues last spring that Trump called him to press his committee to advance a bill to the floor on winner-take-all. A Trump spokesman at the time denied that he called.

McDonnell also met with Pillen, Graham

Riepe wasn’t the only one to meet privately Wednesday with Pillen and Graham. He said he saw McDonnell headed down the hallway to meet with them. McDonnell, through a spokesman, confirmed that he talked with Pillen and Graham.

Sen. Mike McDonnell says he’s a no on winner-take-all ’as of today’

“Mike did pass him in the hallway and met privately with the governor and Graham,” McDonnell spokesman Barry Rubin said. “But (former) President Trump and Senator McDonnell have never spoken.”

McDonnell would like to run for Omaha mayor as early as 2025. Republican three-term incumbent Mayor Jean Stothert stands in his way. Democrat John Ewing is also running.

Stothert told the Examiner on Friday that she supports winner-take-all. Ewing has said he supports the current system of awarding electoral votes by congressional district.