How State Sen. Ernie Chambers Helped Keep Nebraska's Electoral College Votes Split

Nebraska is a heavily Republican state. But for the second time since 2008, it's awarding one of its Electoral College votes to a Democrat.

Nebraska is one of only two states to split Electoral College votes. Nebraska has five. Two votes go to the overall state winner, while one vote goes to each of the state's three congressional districts. The split system was first used in 1992 in an effort to attract candidates to campaign there.

Since then, state Republicans have tried repeatedly to change back to the winner-take-all system seen in most other states. But their efforts have often been thwarted by one longtime progressive state senator: Ernie Chambers.

"Every person who casts a ballot should have the assurance that that vote is going to count," Chambers tells Ari Shapiro on All Things Considered. "I've been able, whenever it came up during my time here, to stop them from doing away with that split vote system."

The 2nd Congressional District, which includes Omaha and its suburbs, is now seen as a miniature swing state. Biden won the district with 52% to Trump's 46% last week.