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Nebraska's 'Blue Dot' survives after lawmakers reject winner-take-all election system

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

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Nebraska's 'Blue Dot' survives after lawmakers reject winner-take-all election system

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Nebraska's distinct election system that has allowed Democratic presidential candidates to pick up a single electoral vote in the state three times survived its closest call in a decade Tuesday as a proposal seeking to eliminate the system fell victim to a filibuster.

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Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City speaks on the floor during a debate on his bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system  at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

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Sen. Dave Wordekemper speaks during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

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Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

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Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

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Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha speaks during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

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2025 Lincoln Primary; SNAP benefit update; Stars clinch cup

Photos: Nebraska Legislature debates winner-take-all bill

Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha speaks during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

People listen to Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue speak on the floor during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

Omaha Sens. Megan Hunt and John Fredrickson talk Tuesday during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City speaks on the floor during a debate on his bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system  at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

Sen. Merv Riepe listens to debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue (left) and legislative staffer Dick Clark converse on the floor during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

Sen. Dave Wordekemper speaks during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte speaks during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

Sen. Ashlei Spivey during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

Sen. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha speaks during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln listens to debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

Sen. John Cavanaugh (right) speaks during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha listens to debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star

+6 

Dave Wordekemper

+6 

Riepe

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley

How they voted

Nebraska lawmakers on Tuesday effectively killed a bill (LB3) that sought to replace the state's distinct presidential electoral system with a winner-take-all model. Two Republicans joined the formally nonpartisan Legislature's Democrats and one nonpartisan in voting against a motion to end a filibuster on the bill, which required 33 votes.

Voting yes (31): Andersen, Arch, Armendariz, Ballard, Bosn, Brandt, Clements, Clouse, DeKay, Dorn, Dover, Hallstrom, Hansen, Hardin, Holdcroft, Hughes, Ibach, Jacobson, Kauth, Lippincott, Lonowski, McKeon, Meyer, Moser, Murman, Sanders, Sorrentino, Storer, Storm, Strommen, von Gillern.

Voting no (18): Bostar, J. Cavanaugh, M. Cavanaugh, Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Quick, Raybould, Riepe, Rountree, Spivey, Wordekemper.

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Winner Take All, 4.8

Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City speaks on the floor during a debate on his bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system  at the Capitol on Tuesday.

Sen. Dave Wordekemper speaks during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha speaks during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln during debate on a bill that would return Nebraska to a winner-take-all presidential election system at the Capitol on Tuesday.

Dave Wordekemper

Riepe

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