Decades-Long Plan Nears Goal of National Popular Vote Presidency
A quiet, long-game effort by reformers has brought the United States surprisingly close to toppling the Electoral College and moving towards a national popular vote system. This reform, known as the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, aims to have participating states pledge their electors to the national popular vote winner once a sufficient number of states, controlling at least 270 electoral votes, join the agreement. The upcoming 2026 midterms present a crucial opportunity for Democrats to secure governing trifectas in key swing states, potentially amassing the necessary electoral votes to implement this change by the 2028 presidential election. However, significant legal, practical, and political questions remain regarding the exact replacement system and the potential consequences of enacting such a reform without bipartisan support.
John Q. Hosedrinker