The Electoral College: A Papacy Inspired Election

[sentinel]

Premise: Governors elect the President in a secret "electoral college" Needs 2/3rds to assume the Presidency. 33 votes are needed to become President.

21 Republicans, 29 Democrats enter the electoral college on November 4, 2008...

They cast their ballots for President.

First Ballot:

Huntsman (R): 3
Otter (R): 8
Sanford (R): 6
Crist (R): 5
Richardson (D): 7
Beebe (D): 7
Strickland (D): 6
Rendell (D): 8

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Idaho Governor Butch Otter led after the first balloting. Governor Huntsman would step aside after the first round asking his backers to support Governor Otter. Strickland vowed to stay in the race even though his support was lack luster.

Second Ballot:


Otter (R): 8
Sanford (R): 6
Crist (R): 8
Richardson (D): 7
Beebe (D): 8
Strickland (D): 3
Rendell (D): 10

Governor Strickland, having lost support during the second round of balloting, drops out before the start of the third round. Strickland does not formally ask his supporters to back anyone else. Governor Sanford convinces his supporters to stick with him through the third round saying disillusioned Democrats will join their ranks.

Third Ballot:


Otter (R): 8
Sanford (R): 6
Crist (R): 8
Richardson (D): 8
Beebe (D): 8
Rendell (D): 12


Governor Rendell begins to consolidate support among the Democrats.


Fourth Ballot:


Otter (R): 12
Sanford (R): 2
Crist (R): 8
Richardson (D): 8
Beebe (D): 8
Rendell (D): 12

With indirect pressure from the Democrats beginning to rally and failure of Governor Sanford to secure more votes --his supporters rethink their candidate. Sanford drops out after the fourth ballot and throws his support to Governor Otter. Bill Richardson sensing defection in his own ranks throws his support behind Governor Rendell.

Fifth Ballot:


Otter (R): 16
Crist (R): 6
Beebe (D): 11
Rendell (D): 17

Crist's supporters begin to consolidate around Governor Otter. Crist see's the writing on the wall and throws his support behind Otter for the sixth ballot. Otter identifies several Democrats who, he thinks, would be willing to throw their support behind him: Brad Henry, Joe Manchin, David Fruedenthal, Mike Easley, Brian Schweitzer and Steven Beshear.

**I accidentally erased the six ballot, but you get the idea**

Seventh Ballot:

Otter (R): 20
Rendell (D): 22
Abstain: 8

Both candidates garner inter-party support. Even though the ballot is secret, how most Governor's vote is widely known.

Eighth Ballot

Otter (R): 22
Rendell (D): 27
Abstain: 1

Governor Rendell is still six votes short of the Presidency. This is where the Vice Presidency comes into play. In this system the electoral college has a tradition of unanimously backing the Vice President of the President's choice as soon as he is elected. Traditionally this has always been another Governor. Rumors begin to float that Rendell will promise the Vice Presidency to a conservative Democrat or a liberal Republican.

Ninth Ballot

Otter (R): 23
Rendell (D): 27
Abstain: 0

Otter promises the Vice Presidency to Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen of Tennessee. Bredesen had promised 5 votes but the move is a flop garnering only one additional vote.

Tenth Ballot

Otter (R): 16
Rendell (D): 34
Abstain: 0

Rendell's turn for a strategic move. Rendell promises the Vice Presidency to Wyoming Governor David Freudenthal.


Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell elected 44th President of the United States & Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal elected Vice President.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Map? And do more of this, with the Rendell administration and the 2012 election and stuff.

[sentinel]

Map? And do more of this, with the Rendell administration and the 2012 election and stuff.

I can do a map. I was thinking about continuing it. I wanted to start back farther, like at 1980, but I couldn't find a list of Governors from 1980. I know I could go look individually at each Governor, but I rather just have one big list haha.

Anyway, I'll do 2012 too!

[sentinel]

90% Red = Democratic Governor for Rendell
30% Red = Republican Governor for Rendell

90% Blue = Republican Governor for Otter
30% Red = Democratic Governor for Otter

(344-186 if anyone was wondering)

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

This is very interesting, continue

[sentinel]

I'll make this a relatively brief, but hopefully interesting timeline...

The Rendell Administration

2009

Rendell/Freudenthal Administration immediately passes legislation helping struggling homeowners and businesses in the recession. The move is applauded by both sides of the aisle. Rendell promises to tackle health care reform next.

By the end of 2009 Congress passes a very watered down health care bill applauded by the right and chastised by the left. The Democratic base criticizes Rendell for "coping out" and even a handful of moderates in Congress say that "the bill was good, but its nowhere near what we needed."

2010

The Rendell Administration decides that immigration and gun reform will be its key issues of 2010. The latter becomes extremely controversial as Rendell pushes hard for a new assault ban and other regulations on gun owners. The NRA and Republicans campaign hard against the bill --but ultimately it passes the Democratically controlled Congress. Joe Scarborough comments that Republicans are "winning the communications war." Ultimately Democrats suffer big losses in the House and Senate in 2010.

2011

Rendell comes roaring back in 2011 trying once again to push immigration reform. Republicans unsuccessfully try to repeal the Rendell administration's policies. Ultimately, the 2011 legislative sessions is one of the most ineffective with substantially less bills being passed than in previous years.

2012

Rendell announces early on that he will be a candidate in the Electoral College for a second term as President. It is unclear early on if David Freudenthal will stay as his Vice President. A watered down immigration reform bill is passed early in 2012 and as a result the Democratic base feels slighted by their President.

[sentinel]

At the beginning of the Electoral College the Republicans have 27 Governors, Democrats have 22 and independents one. 33 votes are needed to win the Presidency.

The Electoral College only allows Governors and one term Presidents to be candidates for the Presidency. No former Governor whom has not been President has ever been nominated. Only sitting Governor's have a vote.

First Ballot:

Ed Rendell (D-I): 19
Christine Gregoire (D): 4
Butch Otter (R): 11
Mitch Daniels (R): 5
Bobby Jindal (R): 10
Chris Christie (R): 3

Butch Otter would announce after the first ballot that he would not be a candidate this time around. President Rendell had not consolidated Democratic votes as of the first ballot.

Second Ballot:

Ed Rendell (D-I): 18
Christine Gregoire (D): 5
Mitch Daniels (R): 11
Bobby Jindal (R): 11
Chris Christie (R): 4
Bob McDonnell (R): 2

The absence of Butch Cotter does not actually make the field smaller as Bob McDonnell's name is thrown into the field. McDonnell says that if the Electoral College wants to elect him then he will serve. Chris Christie declares that he will not be a candidate. Rendell's supporters try to consolidate Democratic support knowing it will hard to bring Republicans over without it.


Third Ballot

Ed Rendell (D-I): 15
Christine Gregoire (D): 6
Mitch Daniels (R): 11
Bobby Jindal (R): 11
Bob McDonnell (R): 7

McDonnell's support increases in the second round. Rendell loses more support among more liberal Democratic Governors.

Fourth Ballot

Ed Rendell (D-I): 15
Christine Gregoire (D): 6
Mitch Daniels (R): 12
Bobby Jindal (R): 8
Bob McDonnell (R): 9

Jindal, after heavy lobbying, begins to lose support. Republican Governors predicting that Gregoire will be the Democratic candidate begin to throw their support behind someone who they think can beat her.

Fifth Ballot

Ed Rendell (D-I): 15
Christine Gregoire (D): 6
Mitch Daniels (R): 14
Bobby Jindal (R): 2
Bob McDonnell (R): 13

Jindal throws his support to Governor McDonnell following the fifth ballot.

Sixth Ballot

Ed Rendell (D-I): 15
Christine Gregoire (D): 6
Mitch Daniels (R): 14
Bob McDonnell (R): 15

In a sudden change, Mitch Daniels tells the Electoral College he was voting for Jindal until the fifth ballot. Daniels announces that he will bow out and support McDonnell.


Seventh Ballot

Ed Rendell (D-I): 16
Christine Gregoire (D): 5
Bob McDonnell (R): 27

The Republicans coalesce around Bob McDonnell. Rendell gains a vote.

Eight Ballot

Ed Rendell (D-I): 19
Christine Gregoire (D): 2
Bob McDonnell (R): 27

Gregoire is all but forgotten by the eight round with Democrats quickly resolving their differences and coalescing around their President.

Ninth Ballot

Ed Rendell (D-I): 23
Bob McDonnell (R): 27

Both candidates are expected to make an offer for some Governors to switch their stance soon.

Tenth Ballot

Ed Rendell (D-I): 28
Bob McDonnell (R): 22

Rendell's backers offer Governor Brian Sandoval the Vice Presidency while Governor McDonnell offers Christine Gregoire the Vice Presidency. Ultimately, Rendell's offer is more successful.

Eleventh Ballot

Ed Rendell (D-I): 34
Bob McDonnell (R): 16

With Democrats returning to Rendell along with a few Republicans, Rendell is elected President for the second time.

[Jerseyrules]

This is awesome, Nick!

[sentinel]

2012

90% Red = Democratic Governor for Rendell
30% Red = Republican Governor for Rendell

90% Blue = Republican Governor for McDonnell
30% Red = Democratic Governor for McDonnell

(372-158 if anyone was wondering)

[sentinel]

2013:

President Rendell is sworn in for his second term and Vice President Brian Sandoval is sworn in for his first term. Rendell proposes an amendment to the Constitution allowing the Vice President,or former Vice President, to be a non-voting nominee in the Electoral College. The Congress passes it and states quickly ratify it into law.



---
I shall write more later

[sentinel]

2013 continued:

Rendell's goals for his second term as outlined in his inaugural speech are taken into account. Rendell wants an economic revitalization package for urban centers and an infrastructure reform package. The infrastructure reform packages passes after Rendell agrees to spending cuts elsewhere infuriating Rendell's liberal base again. The economic revitalization package is tabled after a preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear program by US-Israel.

2014

Rendell's approval ratings take a dip as bad numbers on the US education system come into the picture. Education becomes the key issue of the 2014 midterm elections. Rendell's bill is opposed by Republicans, while liberal Democrats are enthused with the bill the President has offered. After the election Democrats hold a slim majority in both Houses of Congress.

2015

Rendell brings up his economic revitalization program again but Republicans stop it in both Houses after Rendell refuses to consider the Republican plan for Medicare.

2016

Rendell caves and the Congress passes Social Security and Medicare reform along with Rendell's economic revitalization program. The liberal base is furious at the passage of these bills but Rendell calls them "necessary to the survival of our country."

List of Governor's participating in the Electoral College:

Alabama   Robert Bentley   Republican
Alaska   Sean Parnell   Republican
Arizona   Ken Bennett   Republican
Arkansas   Asa Hutchinson   Republican
California   Kamala Harris   Democratic
Colorado   John Hickenlooper   Democratic
Connecticut   Thomas C. Foley   Republican
Delaware   Jack Markell   Democratic
Florida   Charlie Crist   Democratic
Georgia   Nathan Deal   Republican
Hawaii   Colleen Hanabusa   Democratic
Idaho   Butch Otter   Republican
Illinois   Bill Brady   Republican
Indiana   Mike Pence   Republican
Iowa   Terry Branstad   Republican
Kansas   Sam Brownback   Republican
Kentucky   Jerry Abramson   Democratic
Louisiana   Mitch Landrieu   Democratic
Maine   John Baldacci   Democratic
Maryland   Anthony Brown   Democratic
Massachusetts   Scott Brown   Republican
Michigan   Virgil Bernero   Republican
Minnesota   Mark Dayton   Democratic
Mississippi   Phil Bryant   Republican
Missouri   Jay Nixon   Democratic
Montana   Steve Bullock   Democratic
Nebraska   Lavon Heidemann   Republican
Nevada   Brian Krolicki   Republican
New Hampshire   Maggie Hassan   Democratic
New Jersey   Chris Christie   Republican
New Mexico   Susana Martinez   Republican
New York   Andrew Cuomo   Democratic
North Carolina   Pat McCrory   Republican
North Dakota   Jack Dalrymple   Republican
Ohio   John Kasich   Republican
Oklahoma   Mary Fallin   Republican
Oregon   John Kitzhaber   Democratic
Pennsylvania   Allyson Schwartz   Democratic
Rhode Island   Lincoln Chafee   Democratic
South Carolina   Vincent Sheheen   Democratic
South Dakota   Dennis Daugaard   Republican
Tennessee   Bill Haslam   Republican
Texas   Rick Perry   Republican
Utah   Gary Herbert   Republican
Vermont   Peter Shumlin   Democratic
Virginia   Terry McAuliffe   Democratic
Washington   Jay Inslee   Democratic
West Virginia   Earl Ray Tomblin   Democratic
Wisconsin   Russ Feingold   Democratic
Wyoming   Matt Mead   Republican
(23 Democrats, 27 Republicans)

President Rendell is not eligible for a third term, and Vice President Brian Sandoval and former Vice President David Freudenthal have both been mentioned as potential candidates.

[sentinel]

The Electoral College convenes in November 2016 with 23 Democratic Governors and 27 Republican Governors. For the first time anyone who has served as Vice President is eligible to be a candidate in the Electoral College.

33 votes are needed to win.

First Ballot:

Governor Rick Perry of Texas (R): 20
Vice President Brian Sandoval of Nevada (R): 6
Governor Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire (D): 8
Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York (D): 6
Former Vice President Dave Freudenthal of Wyoming (D): 6
Governor Kamala Harris of California (D): 2
Governor Charlie Crist of Florida (D): 2

After the first ballot it is clear that the Republican caucus is strongly supporting Governor Rick Perry of Texas. Perry has been Governor for 16 years now. A fractured Democratic Party is in scrambles as they try to find a consensus candidate. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe notably delays the second vote to meet with the caucus.

Second Ballot

Rick Perry (R): 21
Brian Sandoval (R): 11
Maggie Hassan  (D): 12
Andrew Cuomo  (D): 6

Vice President Sandoval garners bipartisan support on the second ballot with some Democrats moving away from Harris and Cirst to Maggie Hassan. Governor Terry McAuliffe notably delays the third vote as he did the second vote to meet with the caucus.

Third Ballot

Rick Perry (R): 17
Brian Sandoval (R): 33

Governor McAuliffe commented after the Electoral College to a reporter "We knew that Rick Perry had the votes from our side of the aisle if the balloting went on long enough. We also knew that Sandoval was a far more friendly to our own interests. We decided to skip the consensus building around our own candidate, since we knew we were going to lose, and we endorsed one of their own instead. Really threw a wrench in their plan. The Republican caucus never wanted Sandoval to be President."


The reporter went on to ask "What about the Electoral College's Vice Presidential pick?"

"Well, every plan has a flaw. Ours worked perfectly until the Vice Presidential pick. They picked Rick Perry as Vice President to spite us."

January 20, 2017

Brian Sandoval is sworn in as President and Rick Perry is sworn in as Vice President.

[sentinel]

Final Ballot 2016

90% Red = Democratic Governor for Sandoval
30% Red = Republican Governor for Sandoval

90% Blue = Republican Governor for Perry
30% Red = Democratic Governor for Perry

(369-161 if anyone was wondering)

[sentinel]

2017

Sandoval starts off his second term with another Constitutional Amendment, building off of Governor Rendell. This amendment would allow former Governors to be eligible candidates in the Electoral College. This amendment easily passes Congress and is ratified by the States.

Sandoval earns a decent amount of support from Democrats and receives high marks from moderate and liberal Republicans. Conservative Republicans are the most likely to disapprove (these same people highly approve of Vice President Rick Perry).

Sandoval spends his first year in office popular but flows from one small issue to another. No landmark legislation is passed but Sandoval is seen as having accomplished a lot. Both houses are under slim Democratic control.

2018

Sandoval says he will dedicate the rest of his term to the statehood of Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands, Columbia (Washington DC) and the American Pacific (US Territories in the Pacific Ocean). Oddly enough, the proposal is well received by Democrats and most Republicans --but opposed by conservative Republicans.

Republicans take back the House, by a slim margin, in the November election.

2019

President Sandoval continues his push for new states to be admitted to the Union which continues to be the forefront of national attention as North Korea attacks South Korea along with some US territories in the Pacific. The United Nations with the US at the lead organizes a multi-national force to go after North Korea and Kim Jong Un. Russia backs the multi-national force and China does nothing. After a month of fighting, North Korea falls to the South Koreans who pledge humanitarian aide to the North, and reunification.

2020

At the beginning of 2020, the United States of America adds 3 states to the Union: State of Columbia (Washington DC), Commonwealth of Puerto Rico & the Virgin Islands, and the State of the Islands of the American Pacific.

President Sandoval announces that he will be a candidate in the Electoral College for reelection showcasing a 60% approval rating.

The Electoral College will commence with 28 Democrats and 25 Republicans. 35 votes are needed to win.

[sentinel]

28 Democrats and 25 Republican Governors enter the Electoral College.

"This Electoral College will be especially interesting. If you remember back to 2016, then Governor Sandoval was elected by 24 Democrats and 9 Republicans, he was the Democratic nominee. This time, the Democrats have more votes than the Republicans overall and they're likely to back one of their own. The question is will Republicans back President Sandoval for a second term?" - Chris Matthews

First Ballot:

President Brian Sandoval of Nevada (R): 14
Vice President Rick Perry of Texas (R): 12
Former Governor Butch Otter of Idaho (R): 1
Governor Kamala Harris of California (D):  8
Governor Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire (D): 6
Governor Corey Booker of New Jersey (D): 12

[sentinel]

Second Ballot:

Brian Sandoval of Nevada (R): 14
Rick Perry of Texas (R): 13
Kamala Harris (D):  8
Maggie Hassan  (D): 8
Corey Booker (D): 10

The second ballot has little movement. Harris and Hassan tie up, and Rick Perry inches closer to Sandoval. Many Governors believe that it is going to be a while until someone reaches the 35 votes.

Third Ballot


Brian Sandoval of Nevada (R): 14
Rick Perry of Texas (R): 13
Kamala Harris (D):  5
Maggie Hassan  (D): 11
Corey Booker (D): 10

No movement on the Republican side which is stalemated indefinitely. Harris' supporters break and line up with Hassan. Afterwards Harris throws her support to Hassan.

Fourth Ballot

Brian Sandoval of Nevada (R): 14
Rick Perry of Texas (R): 13
Maggie Hassan  (D): 26

Corey Booker tips his hat to Maggie Hassan who secures all but 2 Democratic votes. The final two are Governors of new states and strongly committed to President Sandoval. Right now Sandoval garners 48% of his party's votes while Perry secures 52%.

[Vern]

I think Martinaz would have won, but oh we'll.