Harris calls for Supreme Court expansion and statehood for D.C., Puerto Rico

Former Vice President Kamala Harris called for expanding the Supreme Court and changing the Electoral College during an interview on Tuesday. She stated that winning control of the House and Senate would allow Democrats to pursue these structural changes. Harris told podcast host Keke Palmer that the popular vote must matter, arguing that the current system makes people feel overwhelmed about whether their vote counts.

Harris specifically proposed adding more justices to the Supreme Court to reinforce the principles of the United States Constitution. She also said the party should push for statehood for Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., if residents support it. These proposals were framed as necessary structural reforms alongside re-establishing affordable child care. The comments come after Harris lost both the Electoral College and the popular vote to President Donald Trump in 2024, and she remains undecided about a 2028 presidential run.

Critics have raised concerns about the legal and political implications of these proposals. Y. David Scharf, chairman of Morrison Cohen LLP, told Fox News Digital that Harris' plans could set a "dangerous precedent." Scharf argued that nine justices have been the standard since 1869, noting that even President Franklin D. Roosevelt faced pushback from his own party when he attempted to pack the court. He added that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg warned that expansion would make the court appear partisan. Scharf further stated that eliminating the Electoral College requires a constitutional amendment, not a simple congressional majority, and suggested the message may struggle with independent and swing voters.

The interview also addressed the upcoming midterm elections. Harris emphasized the importance of electing representatives who can oppose cuts to Medicaid and funding for research on issues like fibroids. She framed these midterms as an opportunity to stop harmful actions immediately, rather than just implementing helpful ones. These remarks follow warnings from Governor Tim Walz, her 2024 running mate, who suggested Democrats face a reckoning if they fail to deliver on promises after potentially taking Congress and the presidency in 2028.

Internal party dynamics remain a point of contention. Politico reported on Tuesday that Democratic advisors are criticizing Harris for failing to reinvent herself politically as she weighs another White House run. The report, based on interviews with nearly 20 California-based donors and strategists, highlighted skepticism among insiders about her ability to distinguish herself from her unsuccessful 2024 campaign. Longtime Democratic strategist Doug Herman told Politico that Harris "totally blew it," while former South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges described her approach as "more of the same." However, Maria Cardona, an outside advisor to Harris, pushed back against these criticisms in a statement to Fox News Digital. Cardona called the Politico report "infuriating" and pointed to Harris' specific policy proposals, including expanding the Supreme Court and making D.C. and Puerto Rico states, as evidence of significant initiatives.