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Just two days after he told donors at a private event in California that the Electoral College should be ended, Minnesota Democratic governor and vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz attempted to walk back his remarks.
During an ABC News interview on Thursday evening, host Michael Strahan sought clarification from Walz and pointed out that the Harris campaign said that ending the Electoral College was not an official campaign position.
Walz replied, “Well it’s not the campaign’s position, and, and the point I’m trying to make is, is that there’s folks that feel every vote must count in every state and I think that some folks feel that’s not the case.”
He continued, “Our campaign does that and the point I’m saying is, I’m in five states in two days. We’re out there making the case. The campaign’s position is clear, that that’s not their position. Their position and my position is, is to make sure that everybody understands their vote no matter what state they’re in, matters.”
Strahan then asked Walz, “So that’s something that you and Vice President Harris disagree on?”
Walz responded, “Uh, I have spoken about it in the past, and she’s been very clear on this, and the campaign and my position is the campaign’s position.”
After Walz’s initial comments went viral, his spokesperson told the New York Times, “Governor Walz believes that every vote matters in the Electoral College and he is honored to be traveling the country and battleground states working to earn support for the Harris-Walz ticket.”
The spokesperson added, “He was commenting to a crowd of strong supporters about how the campaign is built to win 270 electoral votes. And, he was thanking them for their support that is helping fund those efforts.”
However, RSBN recently reported that Walz signed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact in 2023, which would allow states to give their electoral votes to the candidate who won the popular vote.
The compact would only be valid if its supporters secured pledges from states with a minimum of 270 electoral votes. A constitutional amendment would also be needed to abolish the Electoral College.