A forgotten law could means Colorado’s electoral college votes would go to Trump—And It’s Deliciously Ironic

Credit to Colorado Peak Politics for pointing this out fully six days ago. I loved the irony when I saw it, and I am just now getting around to providing my own comments.

In general, I like Fort Collins Mayor Jeni Arndt. Since she left the state legislature, she has sprouted that pragmatic streak that local government elected representatives have to grow. In the legislature, you can bloviate, pontificate and consternate over high-minded ideas and ideologies, but at the local government level, sooner or later you have to run crap. Keep the plates spinning. That’s why I love local government.

In 2019, when Mayor Arndt was Representative Arndt, she co-sponsored SB19-042 the legislative gem where Colorado decided to hitch its electoral wagon to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Governor Jared Polis signed this into law on March 15, 2019, because why not let California and New York have a say in Colorado’s electoral votes? (Colorado General Assembly)

To say I was displeased with the high-minded ideology of then Rep. Arndt is an understatement. The Electoral College is the Founding Fathers’ masterstroke, or as I like to call it, the “Screw-You-California Safety Net.” See, those powdered-wig geniuses knew something: letting a couple of heavily populated states dictate every election result would be a democracy death sentence. So, they cooked up this glorious, anti-mob-rule contraption to make sure voters in Middle America wouldn’t be steamrolled by urban elites. It’s a reminder that America isn’t just made up of coastal latte-sippers; it’s also full of cornfield philosophers, Rocky Mountain rebels, and Southern barbecue enthusiasts. Without it, we’d be one national vote away from “dictatorship by Twitter trending topics.”

But on matters of the Electoral College, then Rep. Arndt and I obviously disagreed, and she co-sponsored and passed SB19-042. This legislative masterpiece commits Colorado to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC), an agreement where member states thumb their collective noses at the United States Constitution and pledge their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote, regardless of the state’s own choice. (Colorado General Assembly)

Now, let me give you 3 reasons why NPVIC is a Colossal Blunder:

1. State Sovereignty? What’s That? By joining the NPVIC, Colorado essentially says, “Hey, let’s let New York and California decide for us!” It’s a brilliant strategy if your goal is to make your state’s voters feel utterly irrelevant.
2. The Swing State Mirage: Colorado loves its swing state status (or at least it used to)—it’s like being the prom queen of politics. But with the NPVIC, kiss that crown goodbye. Candidates will focus on dense population centers, leaving Colorado as the wallflower at the electoral dance.
3. Legal Quicksand: The NPVIC is walking a constitutional tightrope. The U.S. Constitution grants states the power to appoint electors, but this interstate agreement could face legal challenges faster than you can say “Supreme Court.” (Pulj)

As of April 2024, the NPVIC was adopted by 17 states and the District of Columbia, totaling 209 electoral votes. All these states lean left, still smarting from the 2000 and 2016 elections, where the popular vote winner didn’t snag the presidency. (National Popular Vote)

Now, here’s the very fun and deliciously sweet irony. At the time I tap these words, the results of the election are not official, but Donald Trump is all but assured to win the national popular vote, as well as the electoral college. If the NPVIC were in effect, all those left-leaning states, including Colo-RAD-OH, would be obligated to cast their electoral votes for him. Yup. The very mechanism designed to thwart a Trump presidency could end up ensuring it. It’s like setting a trap and then falling into it yourself. (Ballotpedia)

So thanks, Mayor/Rep Arndt, for your efforts would ensure that Colorado’s electoral votes actually go to the candidate for whom I voted. I suddenly feel empowered again.

Colorado’s decision to join the NPVIC is like buying a one-way ticket on the Titanic after hearing it’s unsinkable. It’s a gamble that risks the state’s electoral influence and could backfire spectacularly. But hey, who needs foresight when you have virtue to signal?