By REP. MIA COSTELLO
March 31, 2026 – Prior to this legislative session, I had the opportunity to meet Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Republican co-chair of US Term Limits who serves alongside Democratic Representative David Trone. He impressed upon me the significant benefits of Congressional term limits. A real choice at the ballot box. Fresh perspectives added to the conversation. Reduced influence of lobbyists. A true focus on legislation rather than re-election. It reduces the significant incumbent advantage and it restores Congress to a citizen legislature.
The average age of members of Congress continues to climb and leadership in both parties is often held by individuals who have been in Washington for decades. Experience matters, but when it becomes concentrated in the same hands for too long, it can create distance between elected officials and the people they represent. This is not a partisan issue, it is something people across the country recognize. You are seeing members of Congress, including Congressman Nick Begich and former member Mary Peltola, supporting term limits to create more opportunities for new voices to step forward.
No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, there is a shared sense that Washington has become entrenched partisan gridlock, isolated from the day to day struggles of everyday Americans. Lawmakers spend 70 percent of their time fundraising rather than focusing on the legislative duties they were elected to perform. Congressional incumbents raise $10 for every $1 raised by challengers.You read about the same names cycling through leadership for decades. Reelection rates in Congress are consistently above ninety percent and it feels like Congress stays the same year after year, no matter what party is in power. That is why I am joining Governor DeSantis and eighty three percent of Alaskans in supporting Congressional term limits.
Congressional term limits would require a constitutional amendment, meaning either two thirds of Congress would need to propose it or two thirds of state legislatures (34) calling for an amendment convention to set that in motion. From there, three fourths (38) of the states would need to ratify it. That may sound like a high bar, but it is designed that way for a reason. What is notable right now is the level of agreement across the country, many states have already started moving in this direction. Florida, Alabama, Missouri, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Dakota, Indiana and Kansas have passed resolutions calling for congressional term limits.
Constitutional amendment resolutions for term limits are working their way through 15 states, including Alaska, building the kind of pressure that could ultimately force action at the federal level. If enough states pass resolutions, the pressure alone could push Congress to act before a convention is ever needed. Current members of Congress would most likely be grandfathered in.
Much of the opposition to a constitutional amendment creating congressional term limits comes from fears of a “runaway convention.”
There is a reason that these fears have never been realized. First, there has never been an amendment convention because Congress has stepped in and made the change themselves when states have come close to meeting the requirements to call an amendment convention. Second, in the case of an amendment convention, any amendment put forward by the convention would need to be ratified by the legislatures of three quarters (38) of the states.
George Washington was the ultimate example of a leader who put our country in front of his own personal desires for power and authority by stepping down after his second term. It is time we ask members of Congress to follow in his example.
Term limits will not solve every problem in Washington. But it will move us in the right direction and that is something worth supporting.
Rep. Mia Costello proudly serves District 15 in the Alaska State House. She is a co-sponsor of HJR 22 introduced by Representative Frank Tomaszewski (R-Fairbanks) calling for a constitutional convention regarding Congressional term limits. Other co-sponsors are: Representatives Gray (D-Anchorage), Kopp (R-Anchorage), McCabe (R-Big Lake), Bynum (R-Ketchikan), Frier (D-Utquigvik), Prax (R-North Pole), Holland (I-Anchorage), Moore (R-Wasilla), St. Clair (R-Wasilla), Vance (R-Homer).
6 thoughts on “Mia Costello: Term limits are a step toward restoring citizen lawmakers”
It’s interesting that 83% of Alaskans support Congressional term limits because we had two of the longest serving members of Congress in history. Ted Stevens was the longest-serving Republican Senator in history at the time he left office, he’s currently ranked as the 11th longest serving Senator. Don Young is currently ranked as the 6th longest serving House member.
Alaskans are not the smartest people of all states. The state’s proficiency scores have been bottom last for the last forty years. that’s not just one generation that’s multiple generations not understanding. Be a little more cautious believing what Most Alaskans want when they struggle with reading meaning they struggle reading between the lines and critical thinking outside of emotional thinking. Meaning they don’t know what they want, yet, nor can be able to make decisions outside of feelings.
If Alaskans were smarter they’d see Term limits is not our problem, right now, its our ignorance in to be played a fool by people who prey on weaknesses.
If terms arevlimited, the ” real power” i.e. the permanent legislative staff, must also be limited in tenure or you end up with an entrenched ” ruling class” . the staff really writes the laws, meets with the lobbyists, and participates in the gross corruption, nine of them accountable to the citizens.
That should have been” none” not” nine” . my vision is blurred today after eye exam with dilation
The Democrats water girl carrying another bucket of water for AK Democrats because they are frustrated they struggle winning Alaska’s Governor, US Senate and Congressional seats..
The longer Rep Costello keeps talking the sooner Republicans will see she isn’t on their side
I chaired the term limits committee that got term limits on the ballot three times in Alaska. It passed by over 60% each time. It was overturned twice by the courts and once by the legislature. Term limits have been adopted by several state legislatures and has improved the quality of the membership (more minorities, women and citizen legislatures). It is a high bar to get congress to pass term limits, but if enough states adopt them congress will be forced to act. Let’s start with Alaska.