Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Democratic vice presidential nominee alongside Kamala Harris, has stirred controversy after expressing support for eliminating the Electoral College during a campaign fundraiser. At a Tuesday event hosted by California Governor Gavin Newsom, Walz emphatically stated, “the Electoral College needs to go” and advocated for a national popular vote system. This position, while not new to some Democrats, appeared to contradict the Harris campaign’s official stance, leading to confusion and scrutiny.
While Walz’s comments reignited the ongoing debate about the Electoral College’s future, the Harris-Walz campaign quickly distanced itself from his remarks. In a statement released to select media outlets, the campaign clarified that eliminating the Electoral College was not part of Harris’ platform, suggesting instead that Walz’s remarks were an expression of enthusiasm for winning 270 electoral votes in the upcoming election.
NEW: Governor Tim Walz says he thinks the Electoral College should be abolished but then says his position is that the Electoral College should *not* be abolished.
This guy may be one of the worst VP picks of all time.
Strahan: You said you want to abolish the Electoral… pic.twitter.com/BFncCS8L2T
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 11, 2024
The discussion over the Electoral College has gained significant traction in recent years, particularly after the 2016 election, when Donald Trump won the presidency through Electoral College votes despite losing the popular vote.
Democrats, including Hillary Clinton and Rep. Jamie Raskin, have been vocal in their calls for reform, arguing that the current system does not reflect the popular will of the people and can even lead to dangerous outcomes, referencing the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
Walz’s recent push for electoral reform is consistent with his actions as Minnesota governor, where he signed legislation joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. This pact, which aims to award states’ electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote, has already been adopted by 17 states and the District of Columbia, representing 209 electoral votes. However, the compact will only take effect once it reaches the 270 electoral votes necessary to decide a presidential election.
Despite the growing momentum behind the national popular vote movement, it faces significant opposition. Conservative groups, like the Honest Elections Project Action, argue that eliminating the Electoral College would diminish the voice of smaller states and concentrate power in densely populated areas like California and New York. Jason Snead, the group’s executive director, suggested that Walz’s comments reveal a broader Democratic strategy to bypass traditionally competitive states like Michigan and North Carolina in favor of larger, more liberal strongholds.
Polling from the Pew Research Center shows that public opinion is gradually shifting in favor of replacing the Electoral College, with over 60% of Americans now supporting the idea of a national popular vote.
Nevertheless, the issue remains deeply polarizing, with arguments centered around the balance between democratic representation and maintaining the federalist structure of the United States.
