Oregon Becomes 15th State To Promise Electoral Votes To Winner Of Popular Vote

Donald Trump

Oregon has become the 15th state to join the National Popular Vote compact promising its electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote.

From The Hill:

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) on Wednesday signed a bill into law that will give the state’s Electoral College votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote.

“I think it’s really important to be a part of the national conversation regarding the presidential election,” Brown said Wednesday as she signed the bill into law, according to The Oregonian. “I think it will encourage candidates to spend more time in states like ours, speaking directly to our voters.”

The compact will go into effect only if enough states join to bring their total Electoral College votes to 270. Oregon’s addition of seven Electoral College votes brings the current total to 196.

Brown said she thinks Oregon being a part of the compact will compel presidential candidates to spend more time in all the states, particularly hers.

"I think it will encourage candidates to spend more time in states like ours, candidates who are running for president speaking directly to our voters," she said, according to CNN. "I think it will help encourage them to talk about issues that ... Oregonians care more about. And I think it's really important for Oregon to be part of the national conversation regarding the presidential election."

Brown’s signing comes after the Democratic-led Oregon House passed the measure last week largely along party lines.

In the history of the United States, five candidates have become president without coming out on top in the popular vote.

Most recently, Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump in the 2016 election by 3 million votes but lost the race due to the Electoral College.