Nebraska State Sen. Mike McDonnell changes party affiliation

State senator representing South Omaha district is joining the Republican Party

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - A Nebraska state senator censured last month by the state Democratic Party said Wednesday that he is formally joining the GOP.

Mike McDonnell made the announcement at noon in the Nebraska Capitol Rotunda. He represents Dist. 5 in South Omaha, between 72nd Street and Interstate 480.

The Nebraska Democratic Party censured McDonnell in March after he voted alongside Republicans particularly on matters regarding reproductive rights and rights of transgender Nebraskans. There had been talk of a formal censure last summer over the same issues, but no such vote was taken.

In a statement Wednesday, NDP Chairwoman Jane Kleeb reinforced the party’s decision to censure him, denying the action had anything to do with McDonnell’s religious beliefs or affiliation.

“The Nebraska Democratic Party will continue to stand up for reproductive freedom and the human rights of the LGBTQ community. Our decision to censure Sen. McDonnell was never about him being a pro-life Catholic. Our decision was based on our party reaffirming our core values to protect women’s ability to make health decisions and to keep politicians out of our personal health decisions. We respect the ongoing work of Senator McDonnell on behalf of unions and his commitment to protect a fair electoral vote system we have in our state.”

Jane Kleeb, chairwoman of the Nebraska Democratic Party

Following the announcement, Republican lawmakers welcomed McDonnell into the fold. Former governor and now Sen. Pete Ricketts noted that the flip makes the Nebraska Legislature “filibuster proof” in favor of the GOP — even though the Unicameral is technically non-partisan.

“I am pleased to welcome Senator Mike McDonnell to the Republican Team. The extreme new Democrats are pushing common sense officials and voters to our party. The addition of Mike McDonnell to the Republican rolls in the legislature means for the first time in recent memory there is a filibuster proof Republican majority in the Unicameral.”

Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb.

McDonnell isn’t the first Omaha-area politician to make the flip. Longtime Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine officially changed his political affiliation from Democrat to Republican in October 2020.

An Ongoing Story  Nebraska State Sen. Mike McDonnell changes party affiliation (wowt.com)