Sore Losers: Senate Democrats Push to Overhaul Presidential Election Rules Through Constitutional Amendment

After failing to stop President-elect Donald Trump in the 2024 election, Senate Democrats are now aiming to rewrite the rules.

Ironically, these same Democrats fail to recognize that their arguments for dismantling a foundational aspect of our federal republic also make a case for eliminating the Senate itself.

On Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, used the social media platform X to announce a proposal to “abolish the Electoral College, restoring democracy by allowing the direct election of presidents through popular vote alone.”

Durbin, who has also previously suggested arming illegal immigrants, teamed up with Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Democratic Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont to introduce the proposed constitutional amendment, as reported by The Hill.

“In 2000, before the general election, I introduced a bipartisan resolution to amend the Constitution and abolish the Electoral College. I still believe today that it’s time to retire this 18th-century invention,” Durbin stated.

Fortunately, the framers of the Constitution anticipated such overreach from individuals like Durbin.

Eliminating a cornerstone of our federal republic such as the Electoral College—enshrined in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution—requires an amendment. Under Article V, any such amendment must be approved by two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratified by three-fourths of the states.

In short, Senate Democrats stand little chance of abolishing the Electoral College, an enduring target of their obsession.

Nonetheless, their actions warrant scrutiny, and voters must grasp why this “sinister quest” must never succeed.

Changing the Narrative Behind Trump’s Victory

The timing of Monday’s announcement seems telling. Senate Democrats appear eager to distract from Trump’s resounding victory.

According to the Associated Press, with nearly all states having counted 99% of votes, Trump is projected to win the national popular vote by over two million votes. Therefore, even if their proposed constitutional amendment were in place, it would not have altered the election’s outcome.

Yet, Trump’s return to the White House seems inevitable, backed by significant momentum. Democrats, meanwhile, are doubling down on their worn-out claims of defending “democracy” to rally their base.

History shows that Democrats thrive amid the very electoral chaos they often create. Abolishing the Electoral College would introduce unprecedented disorder into presidential elections.

Imagine if the national popular vote determined the presidency. Imagine waiting for states like California to finalize vote counts over a month after Election Day.

Currently, California’s 54 electoral votes are set regardless of the vote count, providing clarity on its influence in advance. But under a national popular vote system, California Democrats would have every incentive to unearth additional votes. Could Republicans—or anyone else—trust elections conducted in such a manner?

The Ironic Argument Against the Senate

There’s a striking irony in the Democrats’ push. Their reasoning for abolishing the Electoral College applies equally to the Senate.

“I’m excited to partner with my friends and colleagues Senator Schatz and Chair Durbin on this important constitutional amendment, which will help empower every voter in every state,” Welch remarked, as reported by The Hill.

But the Senate, by design, does not represent “every voter in every state” equally—far from it.

The Electoral College, which allocates votes based on population, actually reflects the will of “every voter in every state” far more effectively than the Senate ever could. After all, the Senate grants equal representation—two senators per state—regardless of population. That hardly aligns with “democracy.”

This highlights a crucial point: America is a constitutional republic, not a pure democracy. It was structured to prevent the tyranny of majority rule by dividing power between state and national governments.

The Electoral College safeguards this balance by allowing states to conduct their own elections and allocate votes according to their populations and preferences. This system protects against the consolidation of power into a centralized national government.

The Consequences of Success

Democrats’ push to eliminate the Electoral College is fraught with peril. If successful, they would inadvertently bolster the case for abolishing the Senate. Such an outcome would dismantle America’s federal structure, likely leading to the Union’s collapse.

Thus, it is imperative to resist these efforts. The Electoral College remains a vital safeguard of America’s constitutional order, and its abolition would risk unraveling the very fabric of the republic.