January/February 2026 Update

National Overview

Interview with Christopher Pearson

Senior Consultant, National Popular Vote Interstate Compact

By Susan Goldfein,
Member, Steering Committee
Floridians for National Popular Vote

On Thursday, January 22, I had the pleasure of speaking (via Zoom) with Chris Pearson who has worked with National Popular Vote (NPV) since 2006. He originally split his time between NPV and the Vermont State Legislature but now spends full time with NPV.  I came away from our meeting, inspired by the dedication to an idea and the level of commitment it has taken to achieve the slow, but steady progress NPV has made over the past 20 years.  The following are some of the topics we covered.

SG: As Senior Consultant, what are your duties and responsibilities?
CP: I help coordinate efforts in target states.  This means overseeing lobbyists and coordinating grassroots outreach and coalition efforts.

SG:  Initially, what attracted you to the idea of the NPV as an alternative to the Electoral College
CP:  The fact that we still have an Electoral College always bothered me.  It is an archaic process that today makes little sense.  The government belongs to all of us.  Under the current system for electing the President U.S.voters don’t have a strong ownership of our government.

SG:  Is NPV a partisan movement?
CP:  John Koza, who founded NPV in 2006, founded it as a non-partisan movement.  In states where NPV has been enacted, there has usually been bi-partisan support. While the enactment states are under democratic control the bill has passed a number of Republican-controlled chambers. Examples are the Arizona state house and the Oklahoma state senate.  But we monitor the partisan breakdowns in each state to predict where the bill has the best chance of passing.   Right now Democratics are the most interested in fixing the Electoral College.

SG:  What is the current status of NPV nationwide?
CP:  At present, 18 states have passed NPV, for a total of 209 electoral college votes.  We need 270 to enact it nationwide.

SG: Which state do you see as most likely to be the next to pass NPV?
CP:  Virginia.  In 2020 a poll showed that 61% of Virginians favored electing the President by NPV.  Bills to enact NPV have been before the State Legislature in every subsequent year.  The recently elected governor, Abigail Spanberger, said she would sign the bill into law if it passes both houses.  Passage would give us 13 more electoral college votes.

SG:  What does your organization do to help pass NPV in a given state?
CP: We work with local lobbyists in priority states.  We also support grassroots movements. It was a spontaneous grassroots movement that helped pass the bill in Connecticut in 2018 and ever since we’ve worked closely with grassroots partners.  I’ve been busy in Virginia working to formalize a strong coalition.

SG:  Regarding grassroots movements, Floridians for National Popular Vote was founded in 2017 and has been “lobbying” the Florida legislature each year since, as well as educating its citizens about NPV.  Do any other states have a similar ongoing coalition?
CP:  No.  Florida is unique in this type of support and commitment even though you face strong resistance from the State Legislature.

SG:  Which other states are you targeting?
CP:  We anticipate an opportunity in Georgia.  Also, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.  But it takes time.  It took six years to get the bill passed in New York.

SG:  Have there been attempts by any states to repeal NPV once it had been passed?
CP:  A handful.  Colorado is one.  The NPV bill was passed in 2019 and in 2020 opponents put a repeal question on the ballot that went before the voters.  Voters rejected the repeal so the law stands.  It was the first time voters weighed in directly on NPV and it was gratifying to see them support the effort. Most recently efforts to repeal were made in   Maine and Rhode Island but neither was successful.

SG:  Any final words for our readers?
CP: Two-thirds of voters nationwide like the idea of NPV, but few realize how broken the system is.  Just look at the last three elections. In 2016 we elected the second-place candidate.  In 2020, Biden won the popular vote by a substantial majority but barely eked out a majority of Electoral College votes.  In 2024, seven battleground states decided the  election, while the voters in the other 43 states were taken for granted.  80% of voters sat on the sidelines.  The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact ensures that every vote will count.

For more information, please go to NationalPopularVote.com.

What’s Happening in Florida

Legislative Update

Thank You!

We would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the Florida legislators who have sponsored House bill 57 and Senate bill 232.  Among the countless number of bills that are filed each legislative session you have thrown your support behind the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.  We applaud your commitment to making NPV a viable alternative to the Electoral College which, when passed, will ensure that every vote is equal and every vote will count.

Senate Supporters
Sponsor: Carlos Guillermo-Smith

Co-sponsors: Kristen Arrington; Lori Berman

House Supporters:
Sponsor: Michael Gottlieb (pictured below)

Co-sponsors: Robin Bartleman; Daryl Campbell; Kevin D. Chambliss; Dr. Anna V. Eskamani; Jennifer Harris; Angela Nixon; Mitch Rosenwald; Kelly Skidmore; Debra Tendrich

Local Presentations

One of this organization’s goals is to educate as many Floridians as possible about NPV. So, we are pleased to note that 2026 has already seen a significant increase around the State in requests for in-person or Zoom meeting presentations by our subject matter experts.  Below is a list of the diverse organizations and locations on our current schedule.

• League of Women Voters – Villages
• League of Women Voters – Seminole Co. (Altamonte Springs) PEO
• Civil Discourse – Villages
• Stuart Air Show – Stuart
• Leadership of St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg
• Central Florida Grassroots – Maitland Progressives
• Democracy Matters – Boynton Beach
• Palm Beach County Retired – Royal Palm Beach Educators Assn.
• Perida Country Club – Bradenton
• Unitarian Church – Winter Park
• STEM Democratic Club – Tamarac
• League of Women Voters – Charlotte County
• Pelican March Community Center – Naples
• Progressive Hub of Orlando – Orlando
• South Palm Beach Town Hall – Palm Beach

To schedule a speaker for your organization, either in-person or via Zoom, please contact us at NPVFL1@gmail.com

Myth Busters

Myth: Federal sovereignty would be encroached upon by the Compact.

Reality:

• The U.S. Supreme Court as repeatedly stated that the power to choose the method of awarding a state’s electoral votes is an “exclusive” and “plenary” state power.
• The National Popular Vote Compact does not encroach on federal sovereignty, because the power to choose the method of awarding a state’s electoral votes is a state power.

Source: Every Vote Equal

Meet the FNPV Steering Committee: Leslie Feinberg

Leslie is retired after a 38+ year career in advanced and production manufacturing engineering. Her responsibilities included tooling and test equipment development, process planning and troubleshooting, cost analysis, project planning, estimating, and program acquisition and management.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Ceramic Engineering (high-temperature inorganic materials) from the State University of New York at Alfred University and earned an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) in Melbourne, Florida, in 1983.

Leslie became interested in the National Popular Vote (NPV) initiative after it was introduced at a Florida League of Women Voters state convention. She believes NPV represents the future of presidential elections, with the primary challenge being voter education—particularly understanding the U.S. Constitution and its relationship to the Electoral College. Clear, accurate information is essential for voters to fully comprehend how NPV would function.

She has been active with the League of Women Voters since 2013, serving as Treasurer for the Orange County Chapter during a critical growth period beginning in 2014. Currently, she serves on the Government Committee and the Hot Topics Committee. In addition, Leslie brings her enthusiasm and professional expertise to FL4NPV, contributing skills in event planning, data analysis, finance, budgeting, and problem-solving.