Ohio governor John Kasich has asked presidential electors not to cast votes for him later this month, a response to news that a group of Democratic Electoral College members was planning to back him when they gather December 19.
“I am not a candidate for president and ask that electors not vote for me when they gather later this month. Our country had an election and Donald Trump won,” Kasich said in a statement. “The country is divided and there are certainly raw emotions on both sides stemming from the election. But this approach, as well-meaning as it is, will only serve to further divide our nation, when unity is what we need.”
Politico reported Monday afternoon that advocates of the Kasich ploy—the “Hamilton Electors,” they call themselves—had been in touch with people in Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s near-orbit. Their plan isn’t intended to elevate her to the presidency, however, but rather to coalesce around the Ohio governor as a unity candidate, picking off at least 37 Republican electors and ultimatley forming a majority bloc that would back Kasich. Only one GOP elector has publicly announced he would abandon Trump: Christopher Suprun, a Texas paramedic who floated Kasich’s name as someone behind whom electors could rally.
Clinton’s camp reportedly has not weighed in on the strategy. Kasich’s had, however, with his top political adviser, John Weaver, saying Monday he was sure the Electoral College would “affirm” Trump’s victory.
