Democrats plot their course on national popular vote
Democrats have won unified control of enough swing states — Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan — to sidestep the Electoral College. Will they back the effort?
As Democrats secure major wins in battleground states, they face pressure to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, a deal among states to award Electoral College votes to the winner of the national popular vote instead of the winner of the state. The compact gains traction when states with a combined 270 electoral votes join.
Currently, 18 Democratic-leaning states and Washington D.C. have joined, with a total of 222 electoral votes. If Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, or Nevada all join, the compact would become effective, allowing a candidate to win the presidency by securing the popular vote while losing the Electoral College. Five states will have unified Democratic control starting next year, and Democrats in these states have previously supported the compact, but it remains unclear if they will move forward now that they have historic trifectas.
While some state leaders express openness to joining the compact, others acknowledge potential legal challenges and fear diminished prominence for their states. Advocates remain confident that enough states will join to trigger the compact before the 2028 election.
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