# Farewell to the electoral college? Democrats now control enough states to elevate the popular vote

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/farewell-to-the-electoral-college-democrats-now-control-enough-states-to-elevate-the-popular-vote/
- Published: 2026-11-10T23:28:51+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T00:35:04+00:00
- Original publisher: PBS NewsHour (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/farewell-to-the-electoral-college-democrats-now-control-enough-states-to-elevate-the-popular-vote
- Topics: Elections, Politics

## Key points

- The compact has 222 of the 270 electoral votes needed.
- Recent Democratic gains could help it reach the threshold.
- Governors’ support and legal challenges remain uncertain.

## Summary

Democrats’ gains in state elections could bring the US closer to changing how it chooses its president. If enough states join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, they would pledge their Electoral College votes to the candidate who wins the nationwide popular vote, shifting campaigns away from a small number of battleground states.

The compact currently covers states with 222 Electoral College votes; it needs states representing 270 votes to take effect. Democrats won full control in six states with a combined 71 votes, but support among their new governors and lawmakers is uncertain. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin joining would mean Michigan and either Arizona or Nevada would also need to sign up, and the plan could face legal challenges, possibly reaching the Supreme Court.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.