Former Vice President Kamala Harris has voiced support for significant institutional changes, including expanding the Supreme Court and altering the Electoral College, should Democrats regain control of Congress. In a recent interview on the "Baby, This is Keke Palmer" podcast, Harris stated her belief that the Supreme Court should have more justices to better reflect the principles of the Constitution.
"I believe that we need to expand the Supreme Court. We need more justices on the Supreme Court so that we can have a court that actually reinforces the spirit and principles behind the Constitution of the United States," Harris told host Keke Palmer.
Beyond the judiciary, Harris also advocated for changes to the Electoral College, emphasizing the importance of the popular vote. "It's about, the popular vote has to matter, right?" she questioned, adding that reforms like granting statehood to Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. are also structural changes worth pursuing.
These proposals have drawn criticism from legal and political analysts. Y. David Scharf, chairman of Morrison Cohen LLP, cautioned that Harris's suggestions could set a "dangerous precedent." He noted that the number of Supreme Court justices has remained constant since 1869 and that past attempts to alter the court, such as by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, faced significant opposition. Scharf also pointed out that changing the Electoral College requires a constitutional amendment, suggesting that altering electoral rules based on political outcomes could alienate independent voters.
Harris also discussed the upcoming midterm elections, framing them as an opportunity to elect representatives who will oppose policies such as cuts to Medicaid and what she described as "corruption." She indicated that these elections are crucial for both advancing beneficial initiatives and halting harmful ones.
Her remarks come amid discussions about her potential political future. A recent report suggested skepticism among some Democratic insiders regarding her political trajectory and past campaign effectiveness. However, others, like outside advisor Maria Cardona, have defended Harris, highlighting her proposed policy shifts as evidence of new initiatives.
"How can you state that she hasn’t done anything new or groundbreaking or talked about new initiatives or policies and then lay out exactly those policies — like proposing an expanded Supreme Court, lowering the voting age to 16, making D.C. and Puerto Rico states. Those are pretty groundbreaking policies," Cardona stated, referencing Harris's actions since the end of the Biden administration.