Ranked choice voting has drawn widespread support from elected officials, thought leaders, academic experts, prominent organizations, and newspapers. Below are just some of the many Americans who support the nation’s fastest-growing nonpartisan voting reform.

Lisa Murkowski
U.S. senator from Alaska

Lisa Murkowski
U.S. senator from Alaska
“We like the fact that candidates were perhaps a little bit more civil to their opponents. When I knew that I needed to get Margaret’s second-place vote, I’m not going to trash-talk her in our debates or public encounters because I want to pick up some of that support too. So we saw a level of civility in many cases. In some cases, not so much. But I think what we demonstrated in Alaska was the possibility that electoral reform can happen and it can deliver outcomes that are less partisan and perhaps less politically rancorous.” (Source)

Angus King
U.S. senator from Maine

Angus King
U.S. senator from Maine
“In the face of threats that undercut the fundamental right to vote for millions of Americans, we must act to protect our democracy. The Voter Choice Act would help communities advance the vast majority of voters’ priorities by instituting ranked choice voting, like the system that Maine already uses for its primary and federal elections. In such a polarized political climate, this bill would force candidates to appeal to a broader swath of their electorate rather than a small, outspoken faction. We must continue working towards improving our great democracy and that begins with restoring faith in our electoral system.” (Source)

Raphael Warnock
U.S. senator from Georgia

Raphael Warnock
U.S. senator from Georgia
“This [delayed runoff] should be a call to move us to a ranked choice voting system where every Georgian can avail itself of an instant runoff system.” (Source)

Pete Buttigieg
Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation

Pete Buttigieg
Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation
“I think we need a more proportional Congress. We would have, I think, more new, sometimes young and fresh candidates. We would have fewer situations where you’re choosing between your second choice and your third choice because your first choice got knocked off in a closed partisan primary…
“For a big swing like proportional representation in Congress, which ideally would mean that you could elect more than one member in a district the same way we do schoolboard races in this country, the base hits are things like rank choice voting, which is already being used to elect senators in Maine and Alaska.” (Source)

Joe Manchin
Former U.S. senator from West Virginia

Joe Manchin
Former U.S. senator from West Virginia
“Ranked choice voting: I never knew anything about that. So I started looking at how that worked…. And I’m thinking, if we can continue to keep people like Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, my friends — all these people who are just looking for the better cause of how you make something better for our country — then we should do it and look at that. There’s options there people just don’t know.” (Source)

Andy Kim
U.S. senator from New Jersey

Andy Kim
U.S. senator from New Jersey
“Empowering voters couldn’t be more important at a moment when so many people feel detached and disillusioned with our politics. With so much that is broken, ranked choice voting can help reinforce the American people as the drivers of our democracy and make sure that everyone’s voice is heard equally at the ballot box, and by those they chose to represent them in Congress.” (Source)

Mitt Romney
Former U.S. senator from Utah

Mitt Romney
Former U.S. senator from Utah
“[Ranked choice voting] sounds good at this stage. It looks good on paper. I like the results that came out of Alaska and Maine. And so if it continues to perform well . . . I think it makes a lot of sense.” (Source)

Elizabeth Warren
U.S. senator from Massachusetts

Elizabeth Warren
U.S. senator from Massachusetts
“This is one of those things I had thought, ‘Nah, I don’t think so. I don’t think I understand this well enough.’ And yet, I’ve started reading more of the data, working through more of the examples, and there’s a lot to be said for it.” (Source)

Cory Booker
U.S. senator from New Jersey

Cory Booker
U.S. senator from New Jersey
Senator Booker said in 2019 that he supports ranked choice voting and won an RCV election in college.

Ro Khanna
U.S. representative (CA-17)

Ro Khanna
U.S. representative (CA-17)
“As we watch more and more state legislatures push through partisan congressional maps, the need for a better system of representation has never been more clear. The Fair Representation Act will increase representation for communities left behind, open up the two-party system to much-needed choice for voters, and get folks re-engaged with their government.” (Source)

Jamie Raskin
U.S. representative (MD-8)

Jamie Raskin
U.S. representative (MD-8)
“I’m proud to cosponsor the Fair Representation Act to make our elections more positive and our government more representative. Let’s open up American politics to new voices, new choices and representation for all.” (Source)

Don Beyer
U.S. representative (VA-8)

Don Beyer
U.S. representative (VA-8)
“The Fair Representation Act would help put the country back on the right track, strengthen our electoral system, restore public trust, ensure every voter has their voice represented in Congress, and incentivize the election of Members who prioritize practical legislative results and solutions to the problems which beset our country.” (Source)

Ken Buck
Former U.S. representative (CO)

Ken Buck
Former U.S. representative (CO)

Teresa Leger Fernández
U.S. representative (NM-3)

Teresa Leger Fernández
U.S. representative (NM-3)
Rep. Fernandez has co-sponsored the Fair Representation Act, which would implement proportional ranked choice voting in the U.S. House and single-winner ranked choice voting in the U.S. Senate. Prior to joining Congress, she led a lawsuit to ensure Santa Fe would implement ranked choice voting after the reform was adopted by voters.

Denver Riggleman
Former U.S. representative (VA)

Denver Riggleman
Former U.S. representative (VA)
“Central Virginia has long been home to pioneering leaders who inspired the nation with bold visions for a better future and serious debates about how best to build it… We hope Charlottesville residents will join us in supporting the city’s ranked-choice voting ordinance and celebrate this critical step to a more perfect union.” (Source)

Ritchie Torres
U.S. representative (NY-15)

Ritchie Torres
U.S. representative (NY-15)
“The benefits we’re seeing in New York are true in every locality with ranked choice voting, particularly for communities of color. A study by FairVote proves that candidates of color benefit from this system, and candidates pay no penalty when they run against opponents of the same race or ethnicity. Instead of dividing community support, ranked choice voting gives every candidate, no matter who they are, the chance to be a real contender.” (Source)
ADDITIONAL FEDERAL OFFICIALS
- Former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (MI)
- U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss (MA-4)
- U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (VT)
- Former U.S. Sen. Mark Begich (AK)
- U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (CO)
- Former U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-3)
- Former U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY)
- U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (PA-2)
- Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
- U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA)
- U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark (MA-5)
- Former President Bill Clinton
- U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-9)
- Former U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (PA)
- U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX-2)
- U.S. Rep. Angie Craig (MN-2)
- Former U.S. Sen. John Danforth (MO)
- Former U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (WI)
- U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
- U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (ME-2)
- U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10)
- U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper (CO)
- U.S. Rep. James Himes (CT-4)
- U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle (OR-4)
- U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-7)
- Former U.S. Rep. David Jolly (FL)
- Former U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III (MA)
- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Former Secretary of State John Kerry
- Former U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA)
- Former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL)
- U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12)
- U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36)
- U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (MA)
- Former U.S. Sen. John McCain (AZ)
- Former U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (MO)
- Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul
- U.S. Rep. James McGovern (MA-2)
- U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison (MN-3)
- U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-6)
- U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-2)
- Former President Barack Obama
- U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)
- U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski (MD-2)
- U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-5)
- Former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola (AK)
- U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (CA-50)
- Former U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (MN)
- U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-1)
- U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
- U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (IL-3)
- Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich
- Former U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (NY)
- Former Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice
- U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT)
- U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (MN)
- U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13)
- U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-3)
- U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (VT)
- U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-5)
ADDITIONAL STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS
- Former Michigan GOP Chair Saul Anuzis
- California State Sen. Jesse Arreguin
- Former Utah State Sen. Curt Bramble
- Illinois State Rep. Kam Buckner
- Former Georgia State Rep. Wes Cantrell
- Former Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson
- Former Colorado House Speaker Terrance Carroll
- Former Utah State Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck
- North Pole, AK City Councilmember Santa Claus
- Former Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos
- Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas
- Former Utah County Clerk Josh Daniels
- Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean
- Alaska State House Speaker Bryce Edgmon
- Former Chicago, IL Mayor Rahm Emanuel
- Georgia State Rep. Stacy Evans
- New York City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias
- Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan
- Minnesota State Rep. Cedrick Frazier
- Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes
- Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop
- Idaho State Senator Linda Wright Hartgen
- New York City Councilmember Crystal Hudson
- Rhode Island State Rep. Rebecca Kislak
- Oakland, CA Mayor Barbara Lee
- New York State Attorney General Letitia James
- Former Oregon Secretary of State Phil Keisling
- Former Utah GOP Chair Stan Lockhart
- Maine Gov. Janet Mills
- Shelby County, TN District Attorney Steven Mulroy
- Former Idaho Gov. Butch Otter
- Pennsylvania State Rep. Christopher Rabb
- Former Utah State Rep. Marc Roberts
- Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand
- Former Virginia Delegate Chris Saxman
- Former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf
- Colorado State Representative Matt Soper
- Former Charleston, SC Mayor John Tecklenburg
- New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver
- Former Georgia State Rep. Scot Turner
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
- New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
- New York City Councilmember Nantasha Williams
- Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson
- Former Utah State Rep. Mike Winder
- Former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman
ADDITIONAL THOUGHT LEADERS
- Leadership Now CEO Daniella Ballou-Aares
- New York Times columnist Frank Bruni
- Charlie Cook, founder of the Cook Political Report
- Andy Craig, Rainey Center election policy center
- Cheryl Crawford, MassVOTE Executive Director
- Author and philanthropist Ted Dintersmith
- Washington Post columnist EJ Dionne
- Actor and producer Michael Douglas
- New York Times columnist Tom Friedman
- William Galston, Brookings Institution Governance Studies Senior Fellow
- Katherine Gehl, former CEO of Gehl Foods
- Matt Germer, R Street Institute Policy Director
- Alyssa Farah Griffin, co-host of The View
- Actor Ed Helms
- Journalist Hendrik Hertzberg
- Former Libertarian presidential candidate Jo Jorgensen
- Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla
- The Killers
- New York Times columnist Ezra Klein
- Kevin Kosar, American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow
- Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something
- Bill McKibben, author and climate activist
- Mike Murphy, co-host of the Hacks on Tap podcast
- Former Green presidential candidate Ralph Nader
- Krist Novoselic, Nirvana bassist
- Norm Ornstein, American Enterprise Institute senior fellow emeritus
- Former Green presidential candidate Jill Stein
- Former Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer
- Conservative commentator Charlie Sykes
- Katrina vanden Heuvel, publisher of The Nation
- Erin Vilardi, Vote Run Lead founder
- Amy Walter, Cook Political Report publisher & editor-in-chief
ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC EXPERTS
Numerous academic experts have endorsed greater use of ranked choice voting in the United States, including 10 Nobel Prize laureates in economic sciences and nine winners of the Johan Skytte Prize (“the Nobel of political science”). You can also see an open letter from academics supporting the Fair Representation Act here.
- Alan Abramowitz, Emory University
- Robert Axelrod, University of Michigan**
- Rosa Brooks, Georgetown Law School
- Nikolas Bowie, Harvard Law School
- Shaun Bowler, University of California at Riverside
- Charles Bullock, University of Georgia
- Barry Burden, University of Wisconsin
- John Carey, Dartmouth College
- Rachael Cobb, Suffolk University
- Michael Crespin, University of Oklahoma
- Angus Deaton, Princeton University*
- Larry Diamond, Stanford University
- Peter Diamond, Massachusetts Institute of Technology*
- Todd Donovan, Western Washington University
- Joshua Douglas, University of Kentucky College of Law
- David Farrell, University College Dublin
- Caroline Frederickson, Georgetown Law School, 2020 distinguished visitor
- Francis Fukuyama, Stanford**
- Keith Gaddie, University of Oklahoma
- Nicholas Goedert, Lafayette College
- Paul Gronke, Reed College and 2020 Andrew Carnegie Fellow
- Oliver Hart, Harvard University*
- Bob Holmes, Clark Atlanta University (emeritus)
- Mark Jones, Rice University
- Pam Karlan, Stanford Law School
- Peter Joachim Katzenstein, Cornell University**
- Robert Keohane, Princeton University**
- Alex Keyssar, Harvard University
- David Kimball, University of Missouri at St. Louis
- Douglas Kriner, Cornell University
- Didi Kuo, Stanford University
- Lawrence Lessig, Harvard Law School
- Justin Levitt, Loyola Law School
- Arend Lijphart, University of California at San Diego**
- David Lublin, American University
- Sandy Maisel, Colby College
- Jane Mansbridge, Harvard University**
- Eric Maskin, Harvard University*
- Alan Butler Morrison, The George Washington Law School
- Roger Myerson, University of Chicago*
- Jack Nagel, University of Pennsylvania (emeritus)
- William Nordhaus, Yale University*
- Edmund Phelps, Columbia University*
- G. Bingham Powell, University of Rochester and former president of the American Political Science Association
- Robert Putnam, Harvard University**
- Miles Rapoport, Harvard University and former Connecticut Secretary of State
- Ronald Rapoport, College of William and Mary (emeritus)
- John Rapp, Beloit College (emeritus)
- Benjamin Reilly, University of Western Australia
- Andrew Reynolds, Princeton University
- Jonathan Rodden, Stanford University
- Alvin Roth, Stanford University*
- Mark Rush, Washington and Lee University
- Thomas Sargent, New York University*
- Philippe Schmitter, European University Institute**
- Robert Shiller, Yale University*
- Anne-Marie Slaughter, Princeton University (emerita)
- Nicholas Stephanopoulos, Harvard Law School
- Rein Taagepera, University of California at Irvine**
- James Thurber, American University
- Caroline Tolbert, University of Iowa
- Franita Tolson, University of Southern California Law School
- Ismar Volić, Wellesley College
- Tova Wang, Harvard University
*Nobel Prize laureates in economic sciences
**Johan Skytte Prize winners































