By — Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press By — Scott Bauer, Associated Press Scott Bauer, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/farewell-to-the-electoral-college-democrats-now-control-enough-states-to-elevate-the-popular-vote Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Farewell to the electoral college? Democrats now control enough states to elevate the popular vote Politics Nov 10, 2026 6:28 PM EST WASHINGTON (AP) — The midterm elections already upended national politics. Due to the number of state governments that have flipped to Democratic control, they also could change the way the U.S. elects a president. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The sudden blue tint to so many more statehouses opens the door to enough states joining 18 other Democratic-run states in a deal that would effectively neuter the Electoral College. It would remake the battle for the presidency into one for the most votes nationwide, rather than candidates concentrating…
Farewell to the electoral college? Democrats now control enough states to elevate the popular vote
In short
The interstate compact currently stands at 222 electoral votes across 18 states, leaving organizers just 48 votes shy of their activation target. Newly flipped Democratic state governments collectively hold 71 electoral votes, giving the party mathematical viability to enact the agreement without Republican assistance. While leadership in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin support moving forward, key officials in Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada have declined to back the measure. Any finalized pact also risks being dismantled by conservative lawsuits before the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court.
Key points
- Democratic state government majorities now possess the mathematical capability to bypass…: Democratic state government majorities now possess the mathematical capability to bypass the traditional Electoral College system.
- Lukewarm support from key governors in western and midwestern battleground states complic…: Lukewarm support from key governors in western and midwestern battleground states complicates legislative passage of the compact.
- Expected legal challenges from conservative groups will likely place the final fate of th…: Expected legal challenges from conservative groups will likely place the final fate of the election compact before the Supreme Court.