Will Hamilton electors throw away their shot?

(CNN)Alexander Hamilton is enjoying quite an influential renaissance. The Broadway musical bearing his name received a record-setting 16 Tony nominations and took center stage of the political universe when Brandon Victor Dixon (aka Aaron Burr) made a direct appeal to VicePresident-elect Mike Pence at a performance shortly after the election.

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While the term "Hamilton elector" has become part of the vernacular this election cycle, it is clear many electors consider Hamilton's original conceptualization when looking to fulfill their duties. This can be troubling to many Americans looking for certainty when they go to the ballot box. Critics would further charge that maintaining elector independence today exposes the presidential selection process to the very "cabal, intrigue, and corruption" it was designed to prevent.

Nonetheless, many electors have subscribed to the Hamiltonian vision throughout this year's campaign. Two Republican electors have resigned their positions due to their inability to support Trump, and one more, Chris Suprun became the first Republican on record to state he will not be voting for Trump. His announcement makes the Hamilton electors' lobbying campaign that much more interesting. Although a long shot, it would appear that an audience among some Republican electors exists.

With the news of potential Russian interference in the election, 10 electors wrote an open letter to James Clapper, director of National Intelligence, requesting a briefing on all items related to

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Russia's alleged involvement in the campaign.

Citing Federalist 68, they contend that a fundamental reason for the office of elector was to prevent a "desire in foreign powers to gain an improper ascendant in our councils." Forty electors have now signed on to the letter, with Suprun being the only Republican elector to do so. Although the Clinton campaign has been relatively quiet regarding recount efforts, they did release a statement supporting this effort.

Still, it does not appear that mass Republican defections are in the offing. The Trump campaign has indeed been hard at work trying to prevent such an occurrence.

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