Hillary Clinton continues to voice strong opposition to the Electoral College, an institution she contends cost her the 2016 presidential election. In a recently released trailer for a new Netflix docuseries titled “The American Experiment,” Clinton is seen describing the system as an “abomination.” “Well, I personally think the Electoral College is an abomination. For obvious reasons,” she states in the preview for the series.
The five-part docuseries, set to premiere today, explores 250 years of American independence by examining the evolution, challenges, and reimagining of U.S. democracy. Beyond Clinton, the series features interviews with a range of political figures and historians. Notable participants include former Vice Presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, and Al Gore, alongside Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Representative Nancy Pelosi of California.
Calls for Abolition Grow
The movement to abolish the Electoral College, established in 1787, has seen a surge in support among some progressive groups, particularly following Clinton’s 2016 defeat to Donald Trump. Despite winning the national popular vote, Trump secured victories in crucial swing states, which ultimately granted him the Electoral College majority and the presidency.
Clinton has been a vocal critic of the Electoral College since her loss. In her 2017 memoir, “What Happened,” she referred to it as the “god-forsaken Electoral College.” Earlier, in an interview with Anderson Cooper, she reiterated her call for its elimination, characterizing it as an “anachronism that was designed for another time” and one that “no longer works.” She argued for a shift towards a “one person, one vote” system for selecting winners.
Even prior to the 2024 election, Clinton expressed concerns about the Electoral College’s impact on electoral outcomes. Speaking with The 19th, she remarked, “We are the underdog, that just kind of goes with the territory when we have the Electoral College staring at you.”
Founders’ Intentions and Systemic Issues
The series trailer also features Representative Zoe Lofgren, who suggests that the founding fathers themselves had reservations about the Electoral College, describing it as “defective from the beginning.” Lofgren elaborated, “We have a problem that a minority of the population, because of the structure of the Electoral College — in some cases, over the objections of the majority — is ruling the majority.”
Director Brian Knappenberger, discussing Clinton’s participation in the series with Variety, acknowledged the sensitive nature of the topic. “I knew I would be asking former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton about one of the most painful moments of her life,” he stated. “She has rarely spoken candidly about that election night and we’re really happy she talked about it for the series.” Knappenberger highlighted Clinton’s unique position as one of only five individuals in American history to lose the presidency after winning the popular vote, noting the significant margin by which she defeated Trump in that popular vote count.
