How Democrats could end the electoral college by 2028

The Recount May 5, 2026 What if the 2028 election isn’t decided by the electoral college? After recent moves, it’s becoming a real question. In April, Virginia officially joined the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, a potentially pivotal moment in the agreement’s history. The nearly 20-year-old compact was conceived as an end-run around the electoral college, a pact among states to pledge their electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote nationwide, rather than the winner of each individual state. In recent years, the agreement has ticked steadily towards the 270 electoral votes needed for adoption: Virginia is the 19th state (including D.C.) to join, placing it at 222 electoral votes, more than 80% to adoption. Now, the 2026 elections, and Democrats’ quest for control in several key swing states, look increasingly pivotal — for the party’s future, for the 2028 presidential election, and for how we vote for president. 0:00 History of abolition efforts 1:03 The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, explained 3:00 The huge 2026 stakes 6:55 The two wildcards 8:55 What a popular vote election could look like 10:15 Why the electoral college has already changed Subscribe to Steve’s newsletter: TheLongRun.news