Politicians, not voters, would pick Senate noms under Arizona resolution

PHOENIX — A resolution in the Arizona House would transfer the ability to choose U.S. Senate nominees from voters to state politicians.

Under HCR 2022, introduced by state Rep. Travis Grantham (R-Gilbert), members of the state House and Senate would name two members of their political party to run in a general election.

Voters would then get to cast a ballot for one of those four people.

A vacant Senate seat would be filled in the same manner.

There was no provision provided for the nomination of candidates from minority parties, only “each political party,” meaning Republican and Democrat.

The resolution was assigned to committees, but had not received a vote as of Wednesday afternoon. If it were to pass, the matter would have to be placed on a ballot and approved by voters.

Arizona law requires voters to choose Senate nominees through a primary election.

Grantham’s resolution was technically not a violation of the U.S. Constitution, which stipulates in the 17th Amendment that voters have the final say on which people they send to the Senate.

Prior to the 17th Amendment taking effect in 1913, state governments used to choose senators. The argument for the process was senators could serve as a check and balance on the U.S. House, to which members are elected by a popular vote.

The amendment was introduced after some became concerned the Senate nominations could be used as a political bargaining chip and a tempting bribe opportunity.

However, only a handful of cases of impropriety were found during the 100-plus years senators were selected by state governments.

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