Current:Home > ContactNebraska and Maine could split their electoral votes. Here’s how it works -VitalEdge Finance Pro
Nebraska and Maine could split their electoral votes. Here’s how it works
View
Date:2025-04-12 11:34:12
Follow live: Updates from AP’s coverage of the presidential election.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Forty-eight states and Washington, D.C., award all their presidential electoral votes to the candidate who wins statewide.
Then there’s Nebraska and Maine.
The two states each award two electoral votes to the winner of the statewide vote, as well as one electoral vote to the popular vote winner in each congressional district. Nebraska has three congressional districts and five total electoral votes, while Maine has two congressional districts and four total electoral votes.
This means that, although Nebraska is reliably Republican in statewide elections, a Democratic candidate could poach one electoral vote from the 2nd Congressional District, which includes the Democratic-friendly population center of Omaha. Barack Obama in 2008 was the first Democrat to win an electoral vote from the 2nd District under this system, and President Joe Biden was the second in 2020.
If Vice President Kamala Harris were to win Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and lose every other battleground state, she would need the electoral vote from Nebraska’s 2nd District to win the presidency.
Earlier this year, some Nebraska Republicans tried to change state law to award all its electoral votes to the statewide winner as the rest of the country does. The effort failed when a key GOP state legislator came out against it.
Maine votes reliably Democratic in statewide elections, but Republicans are competitive in the more conservative 2nd Congressional District. In 2016 and 2020, Democrats carried the state overall, but former President Donald Trump received the 2nd District’s lone electoral vote both years.
A candidate must win at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win the White House.
___
Learn more about how and why the AP declares winners in U.S. elections at Explaining Election 2024, a series from The Associated Press aimed at helping make sense of the American democracy. The AP receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
veryGood! (3225)
Related
- From bitter rivals to Olympic teammates, how Lebron and Steph Curry became friends
- Why USA's Breanna Stewart, A'ja Wilson are thriving with their point guards at Olympics
- NFL Star Josh Allen Makes Rare Comment About Relationship With Hailee Steinfeld
- After a Study Found Lead in Tampons, Environmentalists Wonder if Global Metal Pollution Is Worse Than They Previously Thought
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Why It Ends With Us Author Colleen Hoover Is Confused by Critics of Blake Lively's Costumes
- Federal judge rules that Florida’s transgender health care ban discriminates against state employees
- Olympic medals today: What is the medal count at 2024 Paris Games on August 3?
- British golfer Charley Hull blames injury, not lack of cigarettes, for poor Olympic start
- At Paris Games, athletes can't stop talking about food at Olympic Village
Ranking
- Illinois Gov. Pritzker calls for sheriff to resign after Sonya Massey shooting
- Medical report offers details on death of D'Vontaye Mitchell outside Milwaukee Hyatt
- Angelina Jolie Accuses Brad Pitt of Attempting to Silence Her With NDA
- Unhinged controversy around Olympic boxer Imane Khelif should never happen again.
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Kentucky football, swimming programs committed NCAA rules violations
- Sept. 11 families group leader cheers restoration of death penalty option in 9-11 prosecutions
- What’s the deal with the Olympics? Your burning questions are answered
Recommendation
Bodycam footage shows high
Lakers unveil 'girl dad' statue of Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna
About half of US state AGs went on France trip sponsored by group with lobbyist and corporate funds
Who's golden? The final round of men's golf at Paris Olympics sets up to be fascinating
Tony Hawk drops in on Paris skateboarding and pushes for more styles of sport in LA 2028
Judge rejects replacing counsel for man charged with shooting 3 Palestinian college students
The 20 Best Amazon Fashion Deals Right Now: $7.40 Shorts, $8.50 Tank Tops, $13 Maxi Dresses & More
Aerosmith retires from touring permanently due to Steven Tyler injury: Read full statement