Will Democrats Renew Push to Bypass Electoral College?

With recent wins in the midterms, Democrats now have the opportunity to advance the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an agreement to make the national popular vote the decider of presidential elections.

The Details: Currently, 18 states and Washington D.C. have joined the compact, which represents a combined 222 electoral votes. Democrat victories in Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin mean the party can now reach the 270 electoral vote threshold needed to implement the compact. However, each state would still need to pass legislation to join the compact.

For Context: The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement among states to award their Electoral College votes to the presidential candidate who wins the nationwide popular vote. It doesn't formally abolish the Electoral College; it changes how participating states allocate their electoral votes.

'Blueprint For Power': An opinion writer in Zero Hedge (Lean Right bias) argued the move was part of a broader Democratic plan to consolidate political power and establish a long-term one-party rule. They said this included packing the court, ending the filibuster, allowing people to vote without citizenship and policing speech. The writer described the strategy as "reminiscent of the old Bolsheviki power play" and emphasized potential disadvantages for Republicans. In an opinion for the Wall Street Journal Opinion (Lean Right), Lauren Stoneman argued that without the Electoral College, the country will look very different from how the Founders envisioned it. Stoneman said enthusiasm for removing the College is "mostly political and self-interested" as the party in charge "think[s] it will help them win the presidency more often."

What Would It Mean for Democrats?: Politico (Lean Left) and Associated Press (Lean Left) analyzed the implications for Democrats. Politico said they were now faced with "pressure to make their states just a little less powerful in the fight for presidency." It included quotes from Democratic leaders who supported removing the College but also said some leaders may have concerns over drawing "political fury if they attempt to rewrite the nation's rules for electing presidents." Associated Press quoted Democratic governors who supported the idea and Republican lawmakers who criticized it. It also included context from the 2000 and 2016 presidential elections that ramped up debate over the Electoral College.

Legal Challenges: The Hill (Center) said bypassing the Electoral College would be easier said than done as the compact may require approval from Congress and could invite litigation. It described what led to the creation of the College and included viewpoints both in favor of and against keeping it.

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