“When I ran for reelection in 2020, I was pro-life,” McDonnell said. “I have asked the Democratic Party to respect my religious-based pro-life position. Instead, over the last year, they have decided to punish me for being pro-life.”

The senator further illustrates the punitive action taken against him, such as not seating him as a delegate and not sharing the party’s resources with him, which was predicated on his pro-life stance.  McDonnell professed that his faith is more important to him than party loyalty.

“The Douglas County Democrats voted not to seat me as a delegate and not to share party resources with me because I am pro-life. The state Democratic Party voted to censure me because I am pro-life. Being a Christian, a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and pro-life is more important to me than being a registered Democrat,” he added.  “Today, I am changing my party affiliation to Republican.”

McDonnell’s change in party affiliation will give the Republicans a strong majority in the Nebraska Legislature.  This should afford the Nebraska GOP an advantage that could be crucial in the state’s legislative battles.

Nebraska politicians are currently weighing a law that would change the state to a winner-take-all system, similar to many other states.  The state’s Governor, Jim Pillen, called on lawmakers to send him a bill he could sign into law.

Nebraska bill LB 764, championed by Nebraska Republicans, seeks to alter the state’s current method of allocating electoral votes from a congressional district to a winner-take-all system.  The current congressional district system has allocated electoral votes to both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates in past elections.  Allocating all of the state’s electoral votes, which has been historically conservative, toward a Republican candidate could be a huge boost in the general election.

“I am a strong supporter of Senator Lippincott’s winner-take-all bill (LB 764) and have been from the start,” Pillen said.  “It would bring Nebraska into line with 48 of our fellow states, better reflect the founders’ intent, and ensure our state speaks with one unified voice in presidential elections,” he added, calling for the state legislature to pass the bill so he could sign it.

“But his county Democrats instead of respecting that they decided to punish it.  They said you cannot participate. If you don’t be a delegate. We’re not going to share our party resources. I continue to vote pro life. state Democratic Party decided to censure me. I continue to vote pro life. This is not an easy decision,” McDonell said in his announcement to change parties.