Democratic victories in the 2026 midterm elections have renewed efforts to change the way the United States elects its president. Supporters of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact say the recent results have brought the proposal closer to gaining enough support among states to take effect, potentially changing how electoral votes are allocated in future presidential elections.
The agreement would require participating states to award their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote, rather than the candidate who wins each individual state. However, the compact would only become active once states representing at least 270 electoral votes have joined. That is the number required to secure a majority in the Electoral College.
Currently, 18 states and Washington, DC, have joined the agreement, representing 222 electoral votes. Recent Democratic gains in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have added political momentum to the campaign. If these states were to join the compact, supporters could move significantly closer to reaching the required threshold.
Advocates argue that the proposal would ensure that the candidate receiving the most votes nationwide becomes president. They also say it could encourage presidential campaigns to compete for voters across the country instead of concentrating their attention on a small number of closely contested states.
However, the proposal faces several legal and political challenges. Critics argue that it could weaken the constitutional role of individual states in presidential elections and reduce the influence of smaller states. Some also question whether Congress would need to approve the agreement before it could take effect.
Legal disputes could emerge over the compact’s constitutionality, the authority of states to coordinate their electoral votes and differences between state election procedures. Courts could ultimately be asked to decide whether the agreement is legally valid.
Support within the states is also uncertain. Even where Democrats have gained political control, governors and lawmakers would still need to decide whether to support the compact. Nevada, for example, previously rejected the proposal despite political support for electoral reform among some Democrats.
The recent election results have therefore given the movement additional momentum, but reaching the 270-electoral-vote threshold remains a significant challenge. The proposal could become an important issue in future debates over the structure of American presidential elections.
