SouthernWorldwide.com – Hillary Clinton, a former presidential candidate, continues to express strong dissatisfaction with the Electoral College, an institution she believes cost her the presidency in 2016. In a trailer for the new Netflix docuseries titled “The American Experiment,” Clinton describes the Electoral College as an “abomination.”
The trailer features Clinton stating her personal view: “Well, I personally think the Electoral College is an abomination. For obvious reasons.” This sentiment highlights her ongoing opposition to the system.
The docuseries, set to be released today, is a five-part series exploring 250 years of U.S. independence. It aims to examine the evolution of American democracy, detailing how it has been built, challenged, and reimagined throughout history. Netflix’s Tudum describes the series’ comprehensive scope.
In addition to Clinton, the series includes interviews with a range of prominent political figures and historians. Notable participants include former Vice Presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, and Al Gore, alongside Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Nancy Pelosi.
The movement to abolish the Electoral College, established in 1787, has seen growing support, particularly among those on the left. This surge in opposition intensified following Clinton’s 2016 loss to Donald Trump. Despite winning the national popular vote, Trump secured victory through the Electoral College by winning crucial swing states.
Following her defeat, Clinton voiced her criticism of the Electoral College, referring to it as “the god-forsaken Electoral College” in her 2017 memoir, “What Happened.” She reiterated her call for its abolition in an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, characterizing it as an outdated “anachronism” that is no longer effective.
Clinton argued that the U.S. has moved towards a “one person, one vote” system for selecting winners. She expressed her belief that the Electoral College “needs to be eliminated” and that the country should “move beyond it.”
Even before the 2024 election, Clinton raised concerns about the Electoral College. In an interview with The 19th, she noted that facing the Electoral College presents a challenge, especially when discussing the perceived underdog status in elections.
The article mentions the 2024 election results, stating that Trump defeated Harris in both the Electoral College and the popular vote. This point is presented in the context of ongoing discussions about electoral systems.
Within the docuseries trailer, Representative Zoe Lofgren offers her perspective, suggesting that the “founders themselves were not in love with the Electoral College” and that it was “defective from the beginning.”
Lofgren further elaborated on the issues with the Electoral College, stating 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.” This points to a fundamental critique of how the system can lead to outcomes that do not reflect the will of the majority.
Director Brian Knappenberger shared his thoughts with Variety regarding Clinton’s participation. He acknowledged that he would be asking her about a “painful moment in her life” and expressed satisfaction that she spoke candidly about the 2016 election for the series.
Knappenberger highlighted Clinton’s unique perspective as one of only five individuals in American history to lose the presidency after winning the popular vote. He also pointed out that the 2016 election was particularly notable due to the significant margin by which Hillary Clinton won the popular vote against Donald Trump.
