# Democrats Near Power to Bypass Electoral College by 2028

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/democrats-near-power-to-bypass-electoral-college-by-2028
- Published: 2026-11-11T08:10:35.442885+00:00
- Topics: electoral-college, national-popular-vote, elections, state-legislatures, 2028-election

## What the left says
- A national popular vote ensures every American's vote counts equally, regardless of which state they live in, eliminating the distortion where a handful of swing states decide the presidency.
- The compact uses a lawful constitutional mechanism, states' explicit power to direct how their electors are appointed, rather than requiring a constitutional amendment that could be blocked by a minority of states.
- Candidates would be forced to campaign everywhere rather than ignoring the roughly 40 states treated as safe for one party, strengthening engagement nationwide.
- This reform has been building for nearly two decades through democratic legislative processes in dozens of states, not through any sudden or secretive maneuver.

## What the right says
- The compact risks diminishing smaller and mid-sized states' influence over presidential elections, effectively letting densely populated urban centers decide outcomes for the entire country.
- Legal scholars argue the agreement likely violates the Constitution's Compact Clause, which requires congressional consent for interstate agreements of this kind.
- The Founders deliberately built the Electoral College into the Constitution as a check on pure majoritarian rule, and changing it should go through the formal amendment process, not a legislative workaround.
- Even some Democratic governors, including in Nevada, have hesitated or rejected joining the compact, recognizing it could reduce their own state's leverage in close elections.

## Common ground
- The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact has been enacted by 18 states and Washington, D.C., representing 222 electoral votes so far.
- The compact only takes effect once member states collectively hold at least 270 electoral votes.
- Recent Democratic trifecta wins in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada could push the total to 283 electoral votes if those states join.
- Whether the compact actually takes effect depends on legislative action that has not yet occurred in these states, and its constitutionality remains legally untested.

## Sources
- [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2026/11/04/democrats-electoral-college-popular-vote-2028) (Lean Left)
- [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news/2026-11-10-0800/elections-how-new-democratic-trifectas-could-reshape-2028-presidential-election) (Center)
- [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news/2026-11-10-0800/elections-democrats-plot-their-course-national-popular-vote) (Center)
- [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news/2026-11-10-0800/elections-democrats-blueprint-permanent-power) (Center)
- [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/crvg9y27n45wo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) (Center)
- [Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/11/10/democrats-national-popular-vote-electoral-college-2028-wisconsin-michigan-pennsylvania-01158164) (Lean Left)
- [Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/11/10/new-democratic-leaders-2028-elections-01157824) (Lean Left)
- [Politico](https://www.politico.com/video/2026/11/10/the-democratic-partys-new-2028-powerbrokers-2224931) (Lean Left)
- [Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/11/08/democratic-thrashing-redraws-the-map-of-state-power-01154607) (Lean Left)
- [ProPublica](https://www.propublica.org/article/ruidoso-new-mexico-floods-fire) (Lean Left)

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