Nebraska state senator dumps Democrats for GOP over pro-life, pro-family support

Nebraska state Sen. Mike McDonnell, Omaha, has left the Democrat Party and re-registered as a Republican.

McDonnell, 58, said the move comes in response to Democrat Party efforts to deny him “party resources” and participation in normal political party functions over his pro-life and pro-family stances.

“Today I’m announcing I am now going to be a registered Republican in the state of Nebraska,” McDonnell told an assembled press conference.

The announcement was met with cheers.

McDonnell said that he first registered as a Democrat in 1984.

“We’re Irish. We’re Catholic, and we’re Democrats,” he said his grandfather taught him growing up.  

When he ran for the Legislature in 2016, he announced he was avowedly pro-life.  

The former union leader and firefighter said even now, despite the switch, his ideals have not changed. 

“I’ve tried to stick with those principles. That has not changed for me. I asked the Democratic Party of Douglas County to respect that I’m pro-life, that I’m a member of the Roman Catholic Church,” he said.  

Instead, however, the Democrats “decided to punish” him based on his beliefs.  

“They said you cannot participate. You can’t be a delegate. We’re not going to share our party resources,” he said. “I continued to vote pro-life.” 

In addition, the state Democrat Party recently censured him over his pro-life, pro-family votes in support of Legislative Bill 574, known as the Let Them Grow Act and the Preborn Child Protection Act.  

The measures, which were eventually signed into law by Gov. James Pillen, a Republican, includes a 12-week abortion ban and the regulation of puberty blockers for minors, as well as a ban on gender-altering surgeries for minors, according to the governor’s office. 

“Today is a historic day in the State of Nebraska,” Pillen said in a statement. “It is a day where we are standing up and protecting our kids so that they can have a better and brighter future. LB574 is the most significant win for social conservatives in a generation, and is part of what has been a historic legislative session with senators voting for policies that protect our kids, cut taxes, grow agriculture, and defend our Nebraska values.” 

But Democrats were vitriolic in response, using a voice vote at a Democrat Party committee meeting to punish McDonnell for assisting the GOP with passage of the acts.  

“…The Nebraska Democratic Party State Central Committee resolves to formally censure Senator Mike McDonnell for his voting record that has adversely affected the reproductive rights of Nebraskans and the rights of transgender individuals in the state,” said the resolution, according to the Nebraska Examiner.   

Previously, McDonell’s county central committee passed a resolution “[to] rescind, withhold and cease” support for him.  

McDonnell said that the decision to switch parties wasn’t easy, but he credited his GOP colleagues for making the path easier.  

“They have been so supportive, based on the things that would be said in the media and social media. They were very supportive,” he said.  

The takeaway for McDonnell is that he has come to appreciate better the quintessential quality making American democracy work: “the idea of being able to participate.”  

When that’s taken away from you it hits “you pretty hard, but it also makes you appreciate something about our democracy,” he added.