Democrats in Senate Attack Founders’ Principles, Favor Urban Rule Over Rural Areas

A group of Senate Democrats introduced legislation on Monday to abolish the Electoral College, reigniting a debate over the system that determines presidential elections.

The proposed bill calls for replacing the Electoral College with the direct election of the president by popular vote alone.

The announcement came via the Senate Judiciary Committee, which described the effort as a way to “restore democracy.”

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The proposal highlights a long-standing push from Democrats to eliminate the Electoral College, particularly since Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016, when Trump secured an electoral landslide despite losing the national popular vote.

“A group of Senate Democrats introduce bill to abolish the Electoral College, restoring democracy by allowing the direct election of presidents through popular vote alone,” the committee stated.

Leading Democratic senators released statements in support of the bill, arguing that the Electoral College is outdated and undemocratic.

Sen. SCHATZ on bill abolishing Electoral College:

“In an election, the person who gets the most votes should win. It’s that simple. No one’s vote should count for more based on where they live. The Electoral College is outdated and it’s undemocratic. It’s time to end it.”

— Senate Judiciary Committee (@JudiciaryDems) December 16, 2024

“In an election, the person who gets the most votes should win. It’s that simple. No one’s vote should count for more based on where they live. The Electoral College is outdated and it’s undemocratic. It’s time to end it,” Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) said in his statement.

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) echoed similar sentiments, calling the current system unfair to voters in highly populated areas. “It is time to retire this 18th-century invention that disenfranchises millions of Americans. The American people deserve to choose all their leaders,” Durbin said.

Sen. DURBIN on bill abolishing Electoral College:

“It is time to retire this 18th century invention that disenfranchises millions of Americans. The American people deserve to choose all their leaders.”

— Senate Judiciary Committee (@JudiciaryDems) December 16, 2024

The push to abolish the Electoral College has been a recurring effort among Democrats, with similar proposals emerging after Trump’s 2016 victory.

Back in 2018, Hillary Clinton also called for the system to be abolished, stating it was time for the president to be chosen by popular vote.

We need to improve and protect our elections, from instituting paper ballot backups to repairing the Voting Rights Act, getting secret money out of politics, and—you won’t be surprised to hear my support for this—abolishing the Electoral College.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 18, 2018

The Electoral College has been a key element of U.S. presidential elections since the nation’s founding. Established in the Constitution, it was designed to ensure that less densely populated states and regions had a voice in national elections, balancing power between rural and urban areas.

Each state’s electoral votes are determined by its representation in Congress, with smaller states guaranteed at least three votes regardless of population.

Critics of the proposed changes argue that abolishing the Electoral College would disproportionately favor large states like California and New York, diminishing the influence of smaller states and rural regions.

They contend that such a move would undermine the intentions of the Founding Fathers, who sought to create a system that protected the interests of all states, not just those with the largest populations.

Supporters of the Electoral College emphasize its role in preventing coastal urban centers from dominating presidential elections.

Without the Electoral College, they argue, candidates would focus almost exclusively on high-population areas, ignoring smaller states and middle America entirely.

The bill’s introduction has already sparked criticism among conservatives who see the effort as another attempt to erode constitutional protections.

They argue that eliminating the Electoral College could pave the way for majoritarian rule that disregards the voices of millions of Americans in smaller or more rural states.

While the legislation is unlikely to pass in the current Congress, its introduction signals a continued push by Democrats to reshape the electoral process.

The debate over the Electoral College is expected to remain a significant issue as the country heads toward future elections.

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