You’re correct in the diagnosis

by Flann , Central New Jersey, Wednesday, June 03, 2026, 09:43 (6 days ago) @ Publicola

That if I candidate quality is a concern it’s the primary system not the 17th Amendment most likely implicated. And “Repeal the 17th” is not a serious policy.

Obviously most of the expansions in democracy in the U.S. have been clearly positive, but I have doubts about how we use the primary process in this country. For one thing, Trump would have had little or no chance to be President in the pre-1972 system.

I would defer to you on the history of Senatorial elections before the 17th Amendment. As far as Senator quality, that system seemed to produce a range of statesman from towering to mediocre to terrible. But maybe it was trending worse in the late 19th/ early 20th century, leading to the passage of the 17th? I am familiar with enough New Jersey politicians to know that state legislatures are hardly bastions of virtue.