Mike McDonnell

Mike McDonnell
Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 5th district
In office January 4, 2017 – January 8, 2025
Preceded by	Heath Mello
Succeeded by	Margo Juarez
Personal details
Born	(1966-01-15) January 15, 1966 (age 59) Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Political party	Republican (from 2024)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (until 2024)
Spouse	Amy Grosse ​ (m. 1993)​
Children	1
Residence(s)	Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Nebraska Omaha, Bellevue University
Website	Campaign website

Mike McDonnell (born January 15, 1966) is an American politician who served in the Nebraska Legislature from 2017 to 2025, representing the 5th district. He was a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party in 2024 after being censured by the Nebraska Democratic Party for voting for anti-abortion legislation and a ban on transgender medical procedures for those under the age of 18.[1][2][3]

Early life and education

McDonnell was born in Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated from Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School in 1984, the year he joined the Nebraska Democratic Party. He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 1992, an associate's degree in fire protection technology in 1996, and a master's degree from Bellevue University in 2014.[4]

Career

McDonnell was a former chief of Omaha Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 385 for the City of Omaha under Mayor Al Veys. On November 8, 2013, Mike retired as Fire Chief from the Omaha Fire Department after 24 years.[5] He also served with union groups Omaha Federation of Labor and AFL-CIO.[4]

Nebraska Legislature

Unlike any other United States legislature, the Nebraska Legislature is unicameral. Its members are elected without any official reference to political party affiliation. In 2016, McDonnell ran for the Legislature against Gilbert Ayala. Ayala is a member of the Republican Party and finished second in the 2016 nonpartisan primary, which saw McDonnell and Gilbert Ayala advance to that general election. McDonnell defeated Ayala in the general election with nearly 70% of the vote.

In 2020, McDonell won reelection after defeating Ayala again, but with a lower margin, of 63.2% of the vote.

McDonell could not run for re-election in 2024 due to term limits.[3]

Abortion

McDonnell has stated that he was transparent about his anti-abortion stance when he ran for the Legislature in 2016. He has also stated his support for “heartbeat bills”. He backed failed legislation that would have banned abortion in Nebraska outright. In response, he was denied a voting role in the Douglas County Democratic Party by a vote of 17-3, with members determining his beliefs conflicted with the party's pro-choice platform.[6]

LGBTQ rights

LGBTQ Nebraskans and allies have criticized Senator McDonnell for being the only Democrat in the Nebraska Legislature to support LB574, the “Adopt the Let Them Grow Act”, which bans transgender medical procedures for those under the age of 18.[7][6]

Winner-take-all

McDonnell has opposed Republican efforts to move Nebraska to a winner-take-all electoral vote system for President, and as of 2024 is considered one of the deciding votes. Nebraska is one of two states (Maine being the other) that splits its electoral votes by congressional district. On September 19, 2024, McDonnell said he was a no on winner-take-all "as of today," though he was under pressure from many Republicans, including Donald Trump and Lindsey Graham,[8] to change his position in what could be a decisive vote that might determine the outcome of the presidential election.[9][10] McDonnell said four days later that he stood firm on his position and had recommended to governor Jim Pillen that the matter be submitted for a possible constitutional amendment.[11]

Running for Omaha Mayor 2025

Mike McConnell is running for the office of Mayor of the city of Omaha, Nebraska in the 2025 election. On November 21st, 2024 he officially announced his candidacy for Mayor of Omaha.

Nebraska Democratic Party censure

In response to McDonnell's positions around abortion and transgender healthcare, some Nebraska Democrats, especially the state chapter of Stonewall Democrats, proposed censuring the Senator. Following a meeting in Scottsbluff on July 15, 2023, the Nebraska Democratic Party officially censured McDonnell.[12][13][14]

The proposed censure and admonishment of me by the Nebraska Democratic Party, because I am pro-life, is not going to change my informed conscience and religious beliefs!

—McDonnell response to censure [14]

Personal life

McDonnell is married to his wife Amy. He is Roman Catholic and resides in South Omaha, Nebraska. He has one child.[4]

Electoral history

2016

Nebraska's 5th Legislative District Election, 2016[15][16]

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mike McDonnell	2,036	76.0
	Republican	Gilbert Ayala	641	24.0
Total votes			2,677	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Mike McDonnell	7,120	70.1
	Republican	Gilbert Ayala	3,028	29.8
Total votes			10,148	100.00
	Democratic hold

2020

Main article: 2020 Nebraska State Legislature election § District 5

Nebraska's 5th Legislative District Election, 2020

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mike McDonnell (incumbent)	3,578	70.0
	Republican	Gilbert Ayala	1,536	30.0
Total votes			5,114	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Mike McDonnell (incumbent)	6,947	63.2
	Republican	Gilbert Ayala	4,053	36.8
Total votes			11,000	100.0
	Democratic hold

References

1. "Legislative District 5: McDonnell eyes compromise; Ayala is 'strong conservative'". Omaha World-Herald. September 15, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
2. "Mike McDonnell has been through the fire". Lincoln Journal Star. January 29, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
3. Anderson, Jake (April 3, 2024). "Nebraska state Sen. Mike McDonnell announces that he's switching from Democrat to Republican". KETV. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
4. "Sen. Mike McDonnell — Biography". news.legislature.ne.gov. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
5. "Meet Mike McDonnell". University of Nebraska Omaha. February 19, 2015.
6. Sanderford, Aaron (February 23, 2023). "McDonnell in crosshairs of fellow Dems on abortion, trans debates". Nebraska Examiner.
7. Wendling, Zach (April 13, 2023). "Nebraska lawmakers narrowly advance trans health care bill after internal chaos debates". Nebraska Examiner.
8. "Lindsey Graham: 'To my friends in Nebraska, that one electoral vote could be the difference'". Politico. September 22, 2024.
9. Sanderford, Aaron (September 20, 2024). "Sen. Mike McDonnell says he's a no on winner-take-all 'as of today'". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
10. Weisman, Jonathan; Epstein, Reid J. (September 20, 2024). "How One Man's Vote in Nebraska Could Change the Presidential Election". The New York Times.
11. Sanderford, Aaron (September 23, 2024). "State Sen. Mike McDonnell deflates GOP hopes for Nebraska winner-take-all in 2024". Nebraska Examiner.
12. Wendling, Zach (July 15, 2023). "Nebraska Democrats to consider 'inflection point' censure of State Sen. Mike McDonnell". Nebraska Examiner.
13. "Statement from NDP Officers, Stonewall Democrats, Secular Democrats and Nebraska Young Democrats". Nebraska Democratic Party (Press release). July 15, 2023.
14. Wendling, Zach (July 15, 2023). "Nebraska Democrats pass on censure, seek new action after failing to reach quorum". Nebraska Examiner.
15. "PRIMARY ELECTION MAY 10, 2016" (PDF). Secretary of State Nebraska. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
16. "NE Legislature 05 2016". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 25, 2023.

External links

• Mike McDonnell for Legislature campaign website
• Sen. Mike McDonnell official legislative website

• Profile at Vote Smart

Nebraska Legislature
Preceded by Heath Mello	Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 5th district 2017–present	Incumbent