Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) introduced a joint resolution on June 25 to repeal the 17th Amendment, proposing to return the selection of U.S. senators from direct popular election to state legislatures. The Texas congressman argues the shift would restore constitutional balance and strengthen state sovereignty in the federal system.
Ratified in 1913, the 17th Amendment established direct election of senators by voters in each state. Before that change, state legislatures chose senators for more than 124 years, creating what Self describes as a direct chain of accountability between the Senate and the states they represent.
“The current system has given us six-year politicians more focused on national ambitions and the institution of the U.S. Senate than on the states they serve,” Self said in a statement. “Our Founding Fathers designed the Senate to protect state sovereignty and act as a check on federal overreach. If senators are supposed to represent their states, then the states should choose them.”
The resolution carries nine co-sponsors: Reps. Eric Burlison (R-MO), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Andy Harris (R-MD), Scott Perry (R-PA), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Sheri Biggs (R-SC), Michael Cloud (R-TX), and Mary Miller (R-IL). Perry joined the effort on June 27, according to reporting from PennLive.
Co-sponsor Paul Gosar stated that returning senator selection to state legislatures would “restore an important constitutional check, strengthen state sovereignty, and help bring accountability back to an institution that too often obstructs meaningful reform.” Clay Higgins called the 17th Amendment “arguably the most injurious amendment in history,” arguing that it allowed “big money” to twist Senate races into “circus acts.”
The Constitutional Barrier and Political Context
Repealing a constitutional amendment is an extraordinarily difficult process. It requires approval by two-thirds of both the House and Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the states. No constitutional amendment has been repealed since the 21st Amendment reversed the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) in 1933.
Self’s resolution arrives amid escalating tensions between the Republican-controlled House and Senate. House conservatives have blocked Senate business to pressure the upper chamber to pass the SAVE America Act, which requires proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. The bill stalled in the Senate after failing to secure the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster, despite Senate Republicans holding 53 seats.
President Donald Trump has amplified the pressure, canceling the signing of a bipartisan housing bill until the Senate passes the voter ID measure. House members, including Self, have vowed to oppose all Senate legislation until the chamber acts. Self posted on social media: “The Senate needs to do its job! Enforce the talking filibuster or NUKE IT and get this bill passed. INACTION IS NOT AN OPTION!”
Self’s resolution advances a long-standing conservative argument about federalism. Proponents contend that direct election of senators contributed to the expansion of federal power and weakened state governments’ role in the national system. The resolution would not affect senators already in office or ongoing elections if it were enacted.
Sources
- Representative Keith Self — Press release dated June 25, 2026, introducing the joint resolution with full statement and co-sponsor list
- Washington Examiner — Reporting on the resolution introduction and House-Senate tensions over the SAVE America Act
- PennLive — Coverage of Scott Perry joining as co-sponsor on June 27, 2026
- National Archives — Confirmation that the 17th Amendment was passed by Congress on May 13, 1912, and ratified on April 8, 1913
- U.S. Senate Official Website — Historical information on direct election of senators since 1913
