Pivotal Nebraska state senator explains why he blocked rules change to help Trump

Nebraska state Sen. Mike McDonnell (R) explained in an interview Tuesday that he voted against the GOP's effort to change Nebraska's Electoral College system because of the timing and "it makes people work for our vote."

"The reason I want to keep the system we have and not go up to winner-take-all ... was the idea that it makes Omaha relevant — that's where the 2nd Congressional District is — and it makes the dollars, of course, the economic impact, but it makes people work for our vote," McDonnell told MSNBC's Chris Hayes.

"Come on in, work hard, play by the rules — don't try to change them with 42 days left," McDonnell said.

Later in the interview, McDonnell likened the timing of the effort to changing the value of a field goal with only a few minutes remaining in a football game, adding he knows "this isn't a game."

"The idea that the coach calls a timeout with two minutes left and says, 'I want to change the value of the field goal from three points to four, and that's how I'm gonna win,' it doesn't ring true and that's not part of Nebraska," McDonnell said.

Republicans for weeks had been pushing for a winner-take-all approach, which almost certainly would have added an electoral vote to former President Trump’s tally. That single vote could have been critical, since one plausible path in the presidential contest would see Harris landing on exactly 270 electoral votes.

McDonnell, seen as the key figure in determining whether Republicans would have enough support to move forward, came out against the approach in a statement Monday.

“In recent weeks, a conversation around whether to change how we allocate our electoral college votes has returned to the forefront,” McDonnell said in a statement. “I respect the desire of some of my colleagues to have this discussion, and I have taken time to listen carefully to Nebraskans and national leaders on both sides of the issue. After deep consideration, it is clear to me that right now, 43 days from Election Day, is not the moment to make this change.”

In the interview, Hayes questioned the timing of the effort — 43 days before the election — saying if the effort had been started in 2023 or earlier this year, he could see it as political "hardball" from Republicans.

In response, McDonnell said, "Let's do it in midterm."

"If the people of Nebraska want to do it two years out and let whoever wants to run for president of the United States know the rules, I think that would be fair," McDonnell added.

In the interview, McDonnell called on both former President Trump and Vice President Harris to have a debate in Omaha.

"To President Trump and Vice President Harris: come into Omaha," McDonnell said. "Come in and debate."

"Again, work for that vote," he added.