Democrats Urged to Adopt Proportional Representation to Fix U.S. Democracy by 2029

Political scientists Lee Drutman of the think tank New America and Mark Copelovitch of the University of Wisconsin-Madison say the United States must look abroad for models to improve its democracy.

The latest episode of Right Now With Perry Bacon highlights their proposals, which include adopting proportional representation and multi-member congressional districts. These changes would eliminate gerrymandering and encourage a multiparty system, both scholars argue.

Key Reforms Proposed by Drutman and Copelovitch

• Proportional Representation: Ensures legislative seats match vote percentages, reducing partisan distortions.
• Multi-Member Districts: Voters elect multiple representatives per district, fostering diverse representation.
• Supreme Court Expansion: Drutman and Copelovitch argue the current court is too partisan and power-hungry, necessitating additional justices.
• Presidential Power Limits: Copelovitch warns that U.S. presidents often assert excessive authority, requiring stricter checks.

Why Judicial Reform Is Critical

Copelovitch warns that the current Supreme Court may strike down proportional representation and other democratic reforms. He emphasizes that judicial reform is essential to prevent judicial overreach from undermining systemic improvements.

2028 Democratic Candidates Urged to Prioritize Democracy

Drutman and Copelovitch urge 2028 Democratic presidential candidates to make democracy reform a central campaign issue. They reject the idea that Democrats must choose between economic and democratic priorities, arguing that a broken system cannot deliver for citizens.

"Questions about whether Democrats should focus on democracy or affordability are a false choice. Economic and democratic issues are connected, because our current system is too broken to deliver strong outcomes for our citizens."

Watch the full episode of Right Now With Perry Bacon on YouTube or Substack for more insights.