Kamala Harris says 'we need to revisit the Electoral College,' wants to expand Supreme Court

Former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Former vice president and failed presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Friday said the U.S. needs to revisit institutions of American government, including the Electoral College and the makeup of the Supreme Court, and consider adding two more states to the union.

Harris was speaking at the National Urban League Conference in Nashville on Friday when she was asked a question about the Voting Rights Act. The former vice president launched into an answer that at first suggested Republicans are "cheating" in the American election process and that Democrats need to focus on "being ruthless" about voter turnout that "is too big to rig," and then pivoted to the controversial ideas of doing away with the Electoral College, expanding the Supreme Court and making Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico states. 

"We must allow for a real conversation about revisiting certain things," Harris told the crowd. "For example -- and I know this is going to be controversial coming from me in particular -- we need to revisit the Electoral College," she continued to a smattering of applause. The Electoral College was established by the nation's Founding Fathers in the Constitution, and abolishing it would require an act of Congress.

Harris didn't stop there -- she also road-tested some ideas she's mentioned previously in passing. 

"We need to expand the court to 13 justices," Harris said, "like we have 13 district courts." And Harris said "we should revisit" adding Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico as the 51st and 52nd states. The Supreme Court was founded with six justices, and has been made up of a different number of judges during early U.S. history, but the number has been nine since 1869.

Later in her talk, Harris told the audience "I have not made a decision" about whether she'll run for president a third time in 2028, and that "I am sincerely and fully focused on these midterms." 

Harris is widely seen as the frontrunner heading into 2028, although some Democrats have expressed skepticism about her running again after losing to President Trump in 2024. A new poll released this week showed Harris leading the field of Democrat hopefuls with 30% support, more than double California Gov. Gavin Newsom, her closest competitor. She also blasted the war with Iran, criticizing Trump for "taking American into a war that the people didn't ask for."

Watch a highlight of her remarks on the Electoral College below and watch the full discussion with her here.