Democrats eye Trump as way to siphon Nebraska electoral vote

(AP) — Democrats in Nebraska, the only state in the past century that has split its electoral votes between presidential candidates from two different parties, are hoping to do so again if the GOP remains divided over presumptive nominee Donald Trump.

Vince Powers, the state's Democratic chairman, predicted Wednesday that Trump will dampen Republican turnout and drive away minority support in the 2nd Congressional District — a largely urban area that includes Omaha and its suburbs.

While Nebraska Democrats aren't predicting a statewide win for their eventual nominee, they think conditions are ripe to again pick off one electoral vote.

[...] unlike in 2008, the 2nd District is currently represented by a Democrat — freshman Brad Ashford, the party's only member of Nebraska congressional delegation.

The Electoral College system was established by the Founding Fathers as a compromise between election of the president by Congress and election by popular vote.

West Virginia in 1916 was the last state before Nebraska to split its electoral votes between candidates of opposing parties, when seven of its then eight electors selected Republican Charles Hughes and one selected Democrat Woodrow Wilson, according to Dr. George Edwards III, a Texas A&M political science professor and an expert in the Electoral College.

Butler dismissed the idea of Nebraska Republicans unhappy with Trump skipping the general election; he's certain they'll want a chance to reclaim Ashford's congressional seat and believes GOP challenger Don Bacon, who won easily Tuesday, will inspire them to vote.