Well known Republicans who support a national popular vote
Donald Trump has spoken out in support of a popular vote four times:
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In 2012 on Twitter, Donald Trump said: "The Electoral College is a disaster for a democracy. ... A total sham and a travesty."
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On November 13, 2016, on Sixty Minutes President-Elect Trump said: "I would rather see it, where you went with simple votes. You know, you get 100 million votes, and somebody else gets 90 million votes, and you win. There’s a reason for doing this. Because it brings all the states into play."
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In the July 2017 Boy Scout Jamboree Speech: "And you know we have a tremendous disadvantage in the Electoral College -- popular vote is much easier."
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On October 11th 2017, on Fox News: I'd rather have a popular vote. For me, it's easier.
From 10/3/11 op-ed D News by former Utah U.S. Senator Bob Bennett:
"[The National Popular Vote approach] would change the nature of campaigns in a very fundamental way. Utah, instead of being a 'flyover' state, ignored by both parties because the electoral vote outcome is well known in advance, would see more attention being paid to it as additional votes in Utah would be as important in the national total as additional votes in Ohio or Pennsylvania — 'battleground' states on the Electoral College map. In the last election, turnout in battleground states was 7 percent higher than in flyover states. Utah, which once led the nation in voter turnout, is now one of the lowest; knowing that one's vote really counted could turn that trend around."
From 4/22/13 interview SL Tribune with former Utah U.S. Senator Jake Garn:
"I have always been against the Electoral College. Even when I was back in the Senate, I used to say we ought to have a national popular vote because it really affects states like Utah that are small. We're ignored... Every vote ought to be equal whether it's from a small state like Utah or a big state like New York or California — and they really are not."
From 1/15/79 Excerpt from Congressional speech by former Senator Bob Dole:
"Were we to switch to a system of direct election, I think we would see a resulting change in the nature of campaigning. While urban areas will still be important campaigning centers, there will be a new emphasis given to smaller states. Candidates will soon realize that all votes are important, and votes from small states carry the same import as votes from large states. That to me is one of the major attractions of direct election. Each vote carries equal importance."
