Nebraska is one of only two states -- Maine being the other -- that award Electoral College votes in presidential elections based on which candidate wins each congressional district. Republicans in the state mounted a late effort to try and change that to a "winner-takes-all" outcome based on the statewide popular vote like the other 48 states.

Unfortunately, that effort was just stymied by a Republican state senator and now former President Donald Trump appears to have admitted that the electoral vote distribution change he backed and would have benefited from has failed, according to Business Insider.

Thus, the situation remains that Nebraska's 2nd District, which includes the city of Omaha and accounts for one electoral vote, could prove critical as a swing district in the final vote count in the Electoral College following November's election.

State senator a "No" on changing electoral vote allocation method

Republican lawmakers in the Cornhusker State, with the support of Republican Gov. Jim Pillen, sought to change the way the state allocates its Electoral College votes from a per-district basis to a "winner-takes-all" formulation based on the statewide popular vote.

That proposed change was effectively blocked, however, by State Sen. Mike McDonnell, a former firefighter's union chief who represents the Omaha district and was first elected as a Democrat but switched to become a Republican earlier this year over his pro-life views, according to the Nebraska Examiner.

"Elections should be an opportunity for all voters to be heard, no matter who they are, where they live, or what party they support," McDonnell said Monday in a statement. "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."

He added that if his GOP colleagues and the governor really wanted to change how Nebraska allocates its electoral votes in presidential elections, they should craft the change as a constitutional amendment and let the state's voters decide rather than via a bill pushed through the legislature.

Trump calls out "Grandstander" McDonnell for blocking change

Former President Trump, who stands to win the majority of Nebraska's electoral votes but could miss out on Omaha's single vote if the "blue dot" city in the otherwise red state goes for the Democratic nominee in November, had previously expressed his support for the change that would likely guarantee his receipt of the swing district's vote.

After Monday's development, though, he appeared to concede defeat in a Truth Social post that thanked the governor and other Republicans in the state for their effort but called out State Sen. McDonnell for blocking the "winner-takes-all" change.

"I would like to thank Governor Jim Pillen of Nebraska for trying to help the Republican Party simplify the complexity of the State’s Electoral Map," Trump wrote. "It would have been better, and far less expensive, for everyone!"

"Unfortunately, a Democrat turned Republican(?) State Senator named Mike McDonnell decided, for no reason whatsoever, to get in the way of a great Republican, common sense, victory. Just another 'Grandstander!'" he continued.

Trump added, "I LOVE OMAHA, and won it in 2016. Looks like I’ll have to do it again!!!"

Republicans will likely try again before the next election

According to the Examiner, former President Trump wasn't the only one disappointed by State Sen. McDonnell's refusal to back the change, as other Republicans argued that the state should have a "unified voice" at the Electoral College instead of divvying up its votes based on how the election is decided in each district.

Yet, while the change won't happen now for the 2024 election, the idea has not been completely set aside and the Republican-controlled legislature will likely try again next year to make the desired alteration.