Democrats are officially launching their doomed campaign against the Electoral College
Democrats are firmly united on one improbable idea.
A slew of 2020 contenders have jumpstarted another push to abolish the Electoral College, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) denouncing the system in mid-March and other candidates saying they'd consider scrapping it. Now, that idea has spread to the Senate, where Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) is planning to introduce a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College on Tuesday, The Daily Beast first reported via a Schatz spokesperson.
Of course, introducing this proposal as a constitutional amendment — which requires approval from two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of all states — means it's pretty much doomed to fail. Republicans who hold the Senate are almost certain to strike it down, and most Democrats haven't even come out in support of abolishing the system. But as Schatz acknowledged by retweeting NBC News' reporting on his upcoming proposal, an amendment against the Electoral College will just help keep the conversations around it going.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Daily Beast's report adds another 2020 Democrat, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), to the anti-Electoral College mix. Gillibrand, along with Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), are among senators slated to support Schatz's amendment. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) also recently introduced an anti-Electoral College bill loaded with other electoral system changes. His bill and Schatz's proposal won't be merged, but do highlight continued concerns over how President Trump easily won the Electoral College but lost the popular vote in 2016.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Gaza war tearing US university campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
DOJ settles with Nassar victims for $138M
Speed Read The settlement includes 139 sexual abuse victims of the former USA Gymnastics doctor
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published