Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stirs controversy by calling for the abolition of the Electoral College in favor of a national popular vote system.
At a Glance
- Gov. Walz advocates for replacing the Electoral College with a national popular vote
- Comments made during fundraisers on the West Coast
- Walz signed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact in 2023
- Abolishing the Electoral College would require a constitutional amendment
- Republicans argue the change would give larger states too much influence
Walz’s Call for Electoral College Abolition
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has reignited the debate over the Electoral College, calling for its abolition in favor of a national popular vote system. During a fundraiser in Sacramento, California, Walz expressed his views on the current electoral process, sparking discussions about the future of presidential elections in the United States.
Walz’s comments reflect a growing sentiment among some Democrats who believe the current system doesn’t accurately represent the will of the people. The governor’s remarks come in the wake of recent elections where the popular vote winner did not secure the presidency, most notably in 2016 when Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College to Donald Trump.
Walz advocates for eliminating Electoral College and replacing it with popular vote https://t.co/lU8zFG8uZW
— Just the News (@JustTheNews) October 9, 2024
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
In May 2023, Governor Walz took a significant step by signing Minnesota into the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. This agreement aims to allocate a state’s electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote, effectively bypassing the Electoral College system without requiring a constitutional amendment.
“I think all of us know, the Electoral College needs to go. We need a, we need a national popular vote,” Mr. Walz told donors at the Sacramento home of Gov. Gavin Newsom of California. – Source
However, the compact faces significant hurdles. It requires states with a combined total of at least 270 electoral votes to join before it can take effect. Currently, the compact falls short of this threshold, and its constitutionality remains a point of debate among legal scholars.
Republican Opposition and Constitutional Challenges
Republican critics argue that abolishing the Electoral College would fundamentally alter the balance of power in presidential elections, potentially giving larger states disproportionate influence. They contend that the current system protects the interests of smaller states and ensures that presidential candidates must build broad geographic coalitions to win.
“Governor Walz believes that every vote matters in the Electoral College and he is honored to be traveling the country and battleground states working to earn support for the Harris-Walz ticket,” a spokesperson for the Harris/Walz campaign told Fox News Digital. “He was commenting to a crowd of strong supporters about how the campaign is built to win 270 electoral votes. And, he was thanking them for their support that is helping fund those efforts.”- Source
Abolishing the Electoral College would require a constitutional amendment, a process that demands widespread bipartisan support and approval from three-fourths of state legislatures. Given the current political climate and the divergent views on this issue, such a change appears unlikely in the near future.
Public Opinion and Future Prospects
Despite the challenges, public opinion seems to be shifting in favor of electoral reform. A Pew Research Center poll indicates that 63% of Americans support eliminating the Electoral College. However, this support is not evenly distributed across party lines, with Democrats more likely to favor the change than Republicans.
As the debate continues, it’s clear that any change to the Electoral College system will require extensive dialogue, compromise, and a careful consideration of its implications for American democracy. While Governor Walz’s comments have reignited the conversation, the path forward remains uncertain and contentious.
Sources:
- Walz Says the Electoral College ‘Needs to Go
- Walz Says Electoral College ‘Needs to Go’ But Unlikely to Happen
- Tim Walz calls for elimination of Electoral College at California fundraiser, says ‘it needs to go’