Kamala Harris Advocates for Supreme Court Expansion, Electoral College Reform

Former Vice President Kamala Harris advocated for expanding the Supreme Court and changing the Electoral College during a recent interview. Speaking on the "Baby, This is Keke Palmer" podcast, Harris stated her belief that the Supreme Court needs more justices to better uphold the Constitution's principles. She also emphasized the importance of the popular vote in elections and suggested considering statehood for Puerto Rico and Washington D.C.

"The work that we can do about winning back the House and the Senate is going to be on a number of things," Harris told host Keke Palmer. "For example, 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."

She further elaborated on the Electoral College, saying, "It's about, the popular vote has to matter, right? You know, all the things that make people feel like, overwhelmed, and does their vote matter?" Harris also mentioned the need for affordable childcare and pushing for statehood for Puerto Rico and D.C. as structural changes.

These comments come as Harris remains undecided about a potential 2028 presidential run. According to reports, some Democratic strategists have expressed skepticism about her political future and whether she has sufficiently differentiated herself since the 2024 campaign. However, veteran Democratic strategist Maria Cardona defended Harris, calling the criticism "infuriating" and pointing to the policy proposals mentioned as groundbreaking.

A legal expert, Y. David Scharf, chairman of Morrison Cohen LLP, warned that Harris' proposed changes could set a "dangerous precedent." He noted that the Supreme Court has had nine justices since 1869 and recalled President Franklin D. Roosevelt's failed attempt to expand the court. Scharf also cited Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's past caution that expanding the court could make it appear partisan.

Regarding the Electoral College, Scharf argued that eliminating it requires a constitutional amendment, not just a change by a Democratic majority in Congress. He suggested that while these ideas might appeal to the Democratic base, they could be a harder sell to independent and swing voters.

Harris also discussed the upcoming midterm elections, emphasizing the importance of electing representatives who will oppose policies like cuts to Medicaid and funding reductions for research, which she linked to actions taken under the guise of attacking Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.