The Washington Post
politicsElection 2016LIVE

Back to
Top
Trump in 2012: ‘The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy’

In a stunning Election Day upset, Donald Trump was elected president of the United States — even as it is becoming increasingly likely that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote.

Still, it appears Trump will have won a decisive number of electoral college votes, though some states remain too close to call.

Ironically, Trump panned this same system four years ago when it seemed Mitt Romney might win the popular vote against Barack Obama.

“The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy,” Trump tweeted on Nov. 6, 2012.

Efforts to get rid of the electoral college have been tried unsuccessfully several times before, according to The Post’s Aaron Blake. Such an effort would be all but impossible now, as it would require a two-thirds vote in what will be both a Republican-controlled House and Senate, as well as the ratification of 38 of the 50 states.

2016 election aftermath: Trump wins, Clinton concedes

Follow along for the latest updates on Donald Trump’s surprising election win, reactions from around the world and the breakdown of exit polls.

Loading...
See races and results for your state:
Local results