Recent remarks by Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota have highlighted a split in the Harris presidential campaign regarding the Electoral College.
While actively campaigning, Gov. Walz advocated for the abolition of the Electoral College, a stance not officially endorsed by Vice President Kamala Harris, Fox News reported.
The Vice President, who is also the current running mate of Gov. Walz, has previously indicated openness to the idea of eliminating the Electoral College but has not adopted it as a campaign position this election cycle.
Gov. Walz, during stops in Seattle and California, strongly voiced his opinion that the United States should transition to a national popular vote. "I think all of us know, the Electoral College needs to go. We need a national popular vote," he stated, striking a chord with many who have expressed similar sentiments following recent elections.
In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, where Donald Trump ascended to the presidency despite losing the popular vote, many Democrats, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have voiced favor for a change in the election process. "I think it needs to be eliminated. I’d like to see us move beyond it, yes," Clinton said, underscoring a broader Democratic critique of the current system.
The issue has attracted considerable debate on both sides of the aisle. Representative Jamie Raskin disparaged the Electoral College, calling it a "convoluted, antique, obsolete system from the 18th century, which these days can get you killed as it nearly did on January 6, 2021." His remarks reflect a growing concern among some politicians about the potential perils of sticking to such an aged mechanism of electing the president.
Opponents like Jason Snead from the conservative camp argue that the push to abolish the Electoral College overlooks the benefits it offers like federalism and fraud protection. Snead criticized Democratic strategies, stating, "Democrat leaders don't think they should have to campaign in places like Michigan and North Carolina, they want California and New York to decide every election." His comments encapsulate the concerns of people who fear that overhauling the system will lead to a loss of balanced national representation.
A statement released from the Harris-Walz campaign attempted to clarify the discrepancy between Walz's public remarks and the official campaign position. The statement said:
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.
Tim Walz discussed the critical necessity for each vote's impact under the Electoral College, explaining the importance of ensuring that all voices are heard in the election process.
Notably, recent polling shows that more Americans prefer to adopt a national popular vote rather than continue with the Electoral College, which leads to discord within the Harris-Walz campaign.
In May 2023, influenced by these shifting sentiments, Gov. Walz signed a Minnesota election bill aligning the state with the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. This law earmarks Minnesota's electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, but this will only take effect if states holding a combined total of at least 270 electoral votes sign on.
As the country heads closer to another presidential election, the debate over the Electoral College remains a contentious topic. While Gov. Walz and like-minded officials push for its abolition, the current administration's campaign has opted for a more conservative approach, focusing on securing electoral votes under the existing system. Nonetheless, public opinion continues to evolve, suggesting that discussions around the electoral process will persist as a significant electoral issue in American politics.
In summary, despite Gov. Walz's vocal support for transitioning to a national popular vote, there exists a tangible rift within the democratic platform, which chooses to primarily concentrate on contesting and winning under the present electoral rules.
