A bold proposal is gaining traction on the campaign trail, and it could change the way America elects its presidents.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz advocated for the elimination of the Electoral College during a campaign stop in California on Tuesday.

Speaking alongside California Governor Gavin Newsom, Walz pushed for replacing the current system with a national popular vote, according to Just the News.

Walz, who is running as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate in the 2024 election, has joined a chorus of Democrats who have long urged for the change. The push for a national popular vote gained momentum after the 2016 election when Hillary Clinton lost the presidency to Donald Trump despite winning the popular vote.

Democrats fear a similar outcome in 2024, where Harris could win the popular vote but lose the presidency through the existing Electoral College system.

Walz and Newsom Discuss Electoral Reform

At the event, Walz mentioned that he and Newsom had previously discussed the issue of electoral reform. While both governors are focused on securing victories in key battleground states, including Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Walz emphasized the need for broader reform.

Walz said:

I think all of us know the Electoral College needs to go. We need a national popular vote that is something. But that’s not the world we live in.

Walz’s remarks come as part of a larger conversation within the Democratic Party about the fairness of the Electoral College. Many Democrats argue that the current system does not reflect the will of the people, pointing to instances where candidates have won the presidency without securing the majority of the popular vote.

National Popular Vote Compact Gaining Attention

As governors like Walz and Newsom advocate for change, some states have already taken steps toward implementing a national popular vote through the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC).

This initiative would require states to pledge their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote, regardless of the state's own voting outcome. However, the compact has yet to secure the 270 electoral votes necessary to take effect.

The compact, which has been passed by several states, represents an effort to bypass the constitutional amendment process, which is notoriously difficult. Amending the U.S. Constitution requires approval from two-thirds of both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states—a monumental task in the current political climate.

Democratic Concerns About the 2024 Election

Walz’s comments come amid growing concerns among Democrats about the 2024 presidential election. Many fear that Vice President Kamala Harris could face a similar fate to Clinton in 2016—winning the popular vote but losing the Electoral College.

This potential outcome has reignited calls for reform, with many Democrats pushing for the national popular vote to replace the current system.

Harris herself has expressed openness to the idea of reform. During a 2019 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, she said she was "open to a discussion" about replacing the Electoral College with a national popular vote.

“There’s no question that the popular vote has been diminished in terms of making the final decision about who’s the president of the United States and we need to deal with that, so I’m open to the discussion,” Harris said at the time.

Walz’s Campaign Focuses on Swing States

Although Walz has voiced support for electoral reform, his campaign has remained focused on winning key swing states in the 2024 election. During his campaign stop in California, Walz acknowledged the importance of securing 270 electoral votes under the current system, even as he expressed his desire for change.

Campaign officials have clarified that Walz’s comments about the Electoral College do not reflect an official position of the Harris-Walz ticket. Instead, they say, Walz was speaking to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters about the broader need for electoral reform.

The movement to eliminate the Electoral College has been met with resistance from Republicans and some moderate Democrats, who argue that it would disproportionately benefit larger, more populous states. Critics of the national popular vote system claim that it would give too much power to urban areas while diminishing the influence of rural voters.

Conclusion

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has called for the replacement of the Electoral College with a national popular vote, reigniting a long-standing debate within the Democratic Party. Although the Harris-Walz campaign is focused on securing electoral votes in key swing states, Walz’s comments highlight growing concerns about the fairness of the current system. The push for a national popular vote has gained traction through efforts like the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, but it has yet to secure enough support to take effect.