Democratic Governors in Swing States Back National Popular Vote After Midterm Wins

Democrats' wins in the Nov. 3 elections gave them full control of state government in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and governors in several of those states said they favor electing presidents by national popular vote. Nevada's incoming Democratic governor, Aaron Ford, said Wednesday that the state should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, telling KOLO he had researched it and now wants the Electoral College gone. Wisconsin's incoming governor, David Crowley, told the Associated Press the state can end the system and that he wants to discuss it with the Legislature, where Democrats won both chambers for the first time since 2010. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Nov. 7 that he still supports a national popular vote and will work with lawmakers on a mechanism. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia, holding 222 electoral votes, have enacted the compact, which takes effect once members hold 270 of 538. It faces constitutional hurdles, and Akhil Amar, who outlined the approach in 2001, worries it could go badly wrong.

The Daily Wire leads with Crowley, describes Democrats as plotting to fundamentally change the electoral system, and adds that Wisconsin would have backed Hillary Clinton in 2016 and that Trump won the 2024 popular vote. The New Republic leads with Ford, quoting his remark about the Electoral College's racist underpinnings, and notes he is one of five Black governors elected. Vox explains the compact's 270-vote math and centers Amar's second thoughts. Both sides agree on Crowley's and Ford's positions and the Democratic takeover of legislatures; the right stresses partisan stakes, the left stresses the compact's mechanics and obstacles. ZeroHedge differs by centering Shapiro's remarks and the 222-vote count.