DeSantis, former Rep. Trone join push for congressional term limits

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Congressman David Trone have teamed up with the nonprofit group U.S. Term Limits to champion a national effort to impose term limits on members of Congress.

U.S. Term Limits, which has been advocating for citizen legislators over career politicians for decades, announced that both DeSantis and Trone will serve as national torchbearers for the campaign.

“Governor DeSantis and Congressman Trone will have these megaphones to deliver the message from the grassroots to the national stage,” said U.S. Term Limits CEO Nick Tomboulides. “We’ve always been a popular movement among everyday Americans, not so much with the politicians on Capitol Hill. But now we have two heavyweights who are going to come out swinging for this. It’s going to be a game changer.”

While DeSantis is a Republican and Trone a Democrat, Tomboulides said term limits enjoy strong bipartisan support — even if Congress itself resists the idea.

Under the Constitution, Congress holds the power to propose an amendment setting term limits, which would then require ratification by the states. But Tomboulides said lawmakers are unlikely to vote against their own interests.

“That’s like getting turkeys to vote for Thanksgiving,” he quipped.

To bypass congressional inaction, U.S. Term Limits is rallying state legislatures to pass resolutions calling for a convention to propose the amendment. So far, twelve states have done so. If thirty-four states join, a convention of the states would be convened to formally consider a term limits amendment.

DeSantis and Trone plan to work with legislators nationwide to grow that number. The group hopes that as more states sign on, mounting political pressure will force Congress to act.

“Once we reach 20, 25, or maybe 30 states, Congress should feel the heat,” Tomboulides said. “We’re at 12 right now.”

He added that if Congress does move forward, lawmakers will likely include a “grandfather clause” to exempt current members — a move the organization would accept.

“Once state legislators get close, they’ll smell blood in the water,” he said. “They’ll want those open congressional seats. Congress knows that, so they’ll try to protect themselves with a grandfather clause — and that’s fine by us.”

Tomboulides argued that term limits would open the door for more Americans from diverse backgrounds to serve, rather than leaving Washington dominated by career politicians and lawyers.

“You don’t have businesspeople making business regulations, or teachers shaping education policy. It’s an entrenched system,” he said. “Term limits would bring in fresh voices and real-world experience.”

Critics of term limits often argue that experience is necessary to navigate Congress effectively. But Tomboulides dismissed that point, citing Washington’s repeated dysfunction.

“After watching Congress stumble through another government shutdown, it’s clear that experience hasn’t improved competence,” he said. “They can’t even do their basic job.”

Tomboulides noted that term limits already apply to many key positions across the country: the president is limited to two terms, 36 governors face similar caps, as do mayors in 9 of the 10 largest U.S. cities, and members of 16 state legislatures.

“Congress should be no different,” he said.

Supporters of the movement can learn more or sign the petition at USTermLimits.com.