Some Republicans Push to Repeal 17th Amendment, Allowing State Legislatures to Pick Senators Instead of the People

The 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1913, established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote, replacing the previous system where state legislatures appointed senators. Several sources from June 2026 report that some Republicans are advocating for repealing this amendment. Specifically, Representative Keith Self has introduced a resolution to repeal the 17th Amendment, arguing that returning the power to state legislatures would strengthen federalism and state sovereignty.quiverquant.comquiverquant.comPress Release: Keith Self Introduces Resolution to Repeal the 17th Amendmentwashingtonexaminer.comwashingtonexaminer.comSelf proposes repealing 17th Amendment as House-Senate feud intensifies+1 more

Discussions on platforms like Reddit and Quora indicate that proponents believe legislative selection could reduce special interest influence and better align Senate representation with state government control, especially since many state legislatures are currently Republican-dominated due to gerrymandering. However, critics argue that repealing the amendment could lead to increased corruption and reduce democratic accountability.ebsco.comebsco.comSeventeenth Amendmentheritage.orgheritage.orgSome Conservatives Want to Repeal the 17th Amendment. Here’s Why They’re...+2 more

The effort is not without challenges; repealing a constitutional amendment requires significant political consensus and is considered a complex process.constitutioncenter.orgconstitutioncenter.orgRepealing the 17th Amendment would be no small task The debate reflects broader tensions about federalism, democratic representation, and partisan control of state governments.

Overall, the evidence clearly shows an active push by some Republicans in 2026 to repeal the 17th Amendment and return senatorial selection to state legislatures.