• Politics

These Celebrities Are Urging the Electoral College to Dump Donald Trump

2 minute read

A band of celebrities teamed up to create a video urging Republican members of the Electoral College to vote “your conscience”—not for President-elect Donald Trump

The ensemble, including Martin Sheen, Debra Messing, Bob Odenkrik and BD Wong, urged the electors to choose someone else in the Electoral College vote on Dec. 19. Trump is expected to surpass the 270 votes necessary to become president after winning 306 electoral votes on election day, but in the newly released video, the celebrities implored 37 voters to keep that from happening.

“You have the position, the authority, and the opportunity to go down in the books as an American hero who changed the course of history,” the celebrities say.

In the unlikely event that Trump does not receive 270 votes, the election would be sent to the House of Representatives for a vote in January.

Read More: What Happens If Faithless Electors Swing the Results?

Sheen opens the video with a speech channeling President Bartlet, his character on The West Wing, explaining the purpose of the Electoral College: “As you know, our founding fathers built the Electoral College to safeguard the American people from the dangers of a demagogue, and to ensure that the presidency only goes to someone who is to ‘an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications.'”

The group Unite for America posted the video on YouTube.

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Write to Julia Zorthian at julia.zorthian@time.com