DeSantis and Trone Urge Urgent Congressional Term Limits Now

UPDATE: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Maryland Congressman David Trone have launched a bold initiative calling for immediate term limits on members of Congress. In a joint op-ed published earlier today in The New York Times, the bipartisan duo criticizes Congress as a “self-serving closed club of political insiders,” urging voters to demand accountability from their representatives.

As a government shutdown looms, DeSantis and Trone assert that the current political landscape is bogged down by “career politicians” more focused on maintaining power than serving the American public. “The endless stalemates and inability to find common ground reflect a deeper problem,” they wrote, emphasizing that re-election rates often exceed 90%.

The two leaders announced their collaboration with the organization U.S. Term Limits, a nonpartisan group dedicated to enacting term limits across all elected officials, particularly in Congress. Both DeSantis and Trone have firsthand experience in Congress, with DeSantis serving Florida’s 6th district from 2013 to 2018 and Trone representing Maryland’s 6th district until January 2025.

In their op-ed, DeSantis and Trone highlight troubling statistics from a Pew Research Center report, noting that the median age of voting members in the House is 57.5, and in the Senate, it is 64.7. They argue that the age and entrenched nature of Congress contribute to stagnation and a lack of innovation.

The two leaders contend that this concentration of power not only fuels partisanship but also empowers lobbyists who benefit from established relationships. “We are the greatest nation on Earth; we deserve a Congress that reflects that greatness, not one that serves as a retirement home for career politicians,” they concluded.

Recent polling data indicates strong public support for term limits—87% of U.S. adults favor limiting congressional terms, according to a September 2023 report from Pew Research Center. This overwhelming consensus underscores the urgency of their campaign as frustration with political gridlock continues to mount among voters.

DeSantis and Trone’s initiative is poised to reshape the discourse around political accountability in the U.S. Congress. As they prepare to launch their national campaign, the focus will be on restoring competition and common sense to Capitol Hill.

What happens next? Watch for updates on their campaign efforts and how this initiative may influence future elections and legislative proposals. The American public’s demand for change is clear, and the call for term limits could be a pivotal moment in today’s political landscape.