James Carville Calls on Democrats to Relent and Pass Universal Voter ID: ‘We Are Not Gonna Win the War’

Veteran political strategist James Carville warned Democrats they are “not gonna win the war” when it comes to voter ID laws, so they should relent so they can “move to the next thing.”

On his Politics War Room podcast, Carville called voter fraud an “infinitesimal problem,” but acknowledged that some kind of ID requirement to vote always polls well with the public.

“It exists on such a minuscule scale, and it’s been proven time and time and time again, but I don’t know if we’re not better off saying, okay, we’ll take that alternative ID, bring your gas bill or your light bill or something. Because for whatever reason, it polls at 75%,” he said.

President Donald Trump is currently pushing Congress to pass the SAVE Act, which would require a valid ID and proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. The legislation would also put new restrictions on mail-in voting. Critics have argued the bill is too broad and would create a major hurdle for voters ahead of the midterm elections.

“We are not gonna win the war against some kind of ID. It doesn’t make any sense. It doesn’t fix anything. But maybe just go along with it and move to the next thing,” Carville said.

Carville’s co-host Al Hunt pushed back, arguing most states already have ID requirements and blasting the SAVE America Act. Carville clarified that he does not support Trump’s favored legislation, but he pushed Democrats to back some kind of universal voter ID legislation as a compromise.

“I never had a problem with it. I’m just saying of all the things … if every poll shows 75 or better, saying we should have some kind of ID to vote… just quit fighting it and go along with it and move to the next thing,” he said.

Watch above via Politicon.

Jason Cohen contributed to this report.

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