Former Vice President Kamala Harris drew Republican criticism after proposing Supreme Court expansion and Electoral College elimination during a Democratic strategy call.
Harris made the remarks during a call with the nonprofit Emerge, suggesting Democrats consider institutional reforms if they regain power. She also called for statehood votes on Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.
What Harris Proposed
“Let’s invite ideas, for example, that are about Supreme Court reform, including the notion of expanding the court,” Harris said on the call. She added that Democrats should discuss “how are we thinking about the Electoral College” and push for D.C. and Puerto Rico statehood.
Harris framed her proposals as responses to Republican redistricting efforts. “We’ve got to neutralize this red state cheating,” she said, arguing there was “a brutality at play on the other side, and a ruthlessness. And we need to play to win.”
The former vice president referenced recent GOP-led redistricting that eliminated black-majority districts in states including Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi following a Supreme Court ruling. “What they have done with this decision, by saying that the politics of redistricting is okay, is they are back-dooring racism through politics,” Harris said.
Republican Response
House Speaker Mike Johnson quickly condemned Harris’ suggestions, calling Democrats “institutional arsonists.” Johnson stated, “You don’t just blow up the system when you lose,” and called it “outrageous” for a former vice president to propose such changes.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., called Harris’ remarks “totally insane” in a Fox News interview. Other Republicans characterized her proposals as dangerous attempts to undermine constitutional institutions.
Democratic Division
Some Democrats distanced themselves from Harris’ ideas. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., told Fox News he was focused on “lowering costs, health care, ending a runaway war,” rather than institutional reforms.
The redistricting battles have favored Republicans significantly, with the GOP projected to gain more than a dozen congressional seats from new maps drawn by Republican-controlled states, while Democratic gains remain limited.
This story has been updated. CNN’s Digital team contributed to this report.
