Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, speaking at a fundraiser hosted by Gov. Gavin Newsom, advocated for doing away with the Electoral College system and implementing a national popular vote. He emphasized the importance of winning key battleground states to secure victory in elections. His comments were criticized by the Trump campaign and Republicans, who accused him of questioning the legitimacy of potential victories by former President Donald Trump. Walz’s campaign clarified that he believes every vote matters in the Electoral College and is focused on winning support for the Harris-Walz ticket.
The Harris-Walz campaign made it clear that getting rid of the Electoral College is not an official position, despite Walz’s remarks. This incident comes after Walz’s recent appearance on “60 Minutes” where he acknowledged the need to be more careful with his words, following scrutiny over misrepresentations about his military history and involvement in historical events. The establishment of the Electoral College in the Constitution means that any changes to the system would require a Constitutional amendment. Calls for reform have increased within the Democratic party, particularly after past elections where the popular vote winner did not secure a victory in the Electoral College.
The Electoral College allocates a total of 538 electoral votes among states based on their congressional representation, with a winner-take-all system in most states. This structure has faced criticism for potentially skewing election outcomes away from the popular vote. Surveys show that a majority of Americans favor determining election outcomes based on the popular vote rather than the Electoral College. The longstanding debate over the Electoral College’s role in presidential elections continues to spark discussions and calls for reform in the U.S. political landscape.
As the 2024 campaign reporter for CBS News, Shawna Mizelle contributed to the coverage of the fundraising event and Gov. Tim Walz’s remarks regarding the Electoral College system. The political implications of calls for electoral reform and the ongoing debate surrounding the Electoral College highlight the complexities of the U.S. election process. With increasing public support for a national popular vote system, the conversation around potential reforms to the Electoral College is likely to continue leading up to future elections. The role of key battleground states and the strategies employed by political campaigns to secure electoral victories remain central to the electoral landscape in the United States.
