Jemele Hill, a former ESPN host, recently made a claim that the Electoral College is entirely rooted in slavery, suggesting it cost both Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris presidential victories against Donald Trump.

The Electoral College’s History

The Electoral College is a compromise between the Founding Fathers, who were divided between having Congress choose the president and allowing a direct popular vote. While the Three-Fifths Compromise did increase the political power of slave states and affect how electoral votes were allocated, Hill’s claim that slavery was the entire reason the Electoral College was created is not accurate.

The weighted system of the Electoral College also protects small states, ensuring they have a say in presidential elections. Without it, small states would have minimal influence, and politicians would largely ignore their interests.

Hill’s Claims on Election Outcomes

Hill also claimed that the Electoral College cost two women, specifically Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris, the presidency. However, this claim is also not true. Kamala Harris lost both the Electoral College and the popular vote to Trump in 2024.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.