What if the 2024 election was decided by popular vote instead of the Electoral College system?
If the 2024 election was decided by popular vote, it would significantly alter campaign strategies, shifting focus from swing states to populous areas. This change could potentially benefit the Democratic ticket, but both parties would need to adapt their approaches to maximize national vote totals rather than targeting specific states.
{"reasoning_type": "counterfactual"}
Currently, Kamala Harris is the Democratic presidential nominee with Tim Walz as her running mate, competing against Donald Trump in the 2024 election using the Electoral College system. If the election were decided by popular vote instead, it would significantly change the campaign strategies for both parties. Candidates would likely focus more on populous states and urban centers rather than swing states. The Democrats' approach of selecting Tim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, might be less strategically important in a popular vote system. Campaigns would need to appeal to a broader national audience rather than targeting specific electoral vote-rich states. This change could potentially benefit the Democratic ticket, as Democrats have won the popular vote in recent elections while losing the Electoral College. However, both parties would need to adapt their strategies to maximize their national vote totals rather than focusing on winning key states.