Dem introducing constitutional amendment to abolish Electoral College

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) is set this week to introduce a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College, The Daily Beast first reported Monday.

An aide told the outlet that the amendment is supported by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Multiple news outlets confirmed Schatz’s plan.

The Hawaii lawmaker’s office did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment on the reports.

{mosads}The proposal comes on the heels of a package of election reform bills introduced last week by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).

These efforts are not currently merged together, according to the Daily Beast.

One of Merkley’s bills would propose a constitutional amendment to nix the Electoral College and elect the president by a direct popular vote. 

Abolishing the Electoral College has gained popularity in progressive circles recently.

Several 2020 White House hopefuls, like Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), have expressed openness to the reform.

Booker said last week during a CNN town hall that he believes that the person who wins the most votes should be the president, but added that “we have to win the next election under the rules that are there now.”

Harris separately said she was “open” to the idea, while Warren urged supporters to sign a petition supporting “getting rid of the Electoral College.”

Any amendment would face a tough road: It would first need to win over two-thirds of both chambers of Congress and then be ratified by three-fourths of the states.