Term limits just make sense

Senate Bill 222, introduced Jan. 14, reflects a belief that state government works best when leadership is periodically refreshed and power is not allowed to settle perpetually in the same hands.

The proposed constitutional amendment would limit state senators to five elected terms and state representatives to eight, while setting two-term limits for statewide offices including attorney general, insurance commissioner, auditor of accounts and state treasurer. Public reaction has been unmistakable. In a Cape Gazette poll, 90% of respondents said they support term limits. In a polarized political climate, that level of agreement is rare.

Sen. Eric Buckson, R-Dover South, who sponsored the amendment, said long-standing conversations about term limits stem from a desire for accountability and renewal. That desire is hardly abstract. Delawareans see, at the national level, what happens when elected office becomes a permanent profession. Congress is filled with career politicians who spend decades in power, often more focused on maintaining their position than solving problems. The result is gridlock, public frustration, and a growing disconnect between voters and those who represent them.

Delaware should not wait for that dysfunction to take deeper root here. Opponents often argue that elections alone are enough. Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, D-Rehoboth Beach, captured that sentiment in a social media post, saying, “We already have term limits; they are called elections. That is why I oppose SB 222.” But that slogan ignores reality. Incumbents benefit from name recognition, fundraising advantages and institutional support that frequently discourage challengers before a race even begins. Term limits don’t replace elections – they strengthen them.

SB 222 is carefully structured to be fair and deliberate. It would not apply retroactively, and it must clear a high bar: two-thirds approval in both chambers across two General Assembly sessions. 

With overwhelming public support and a clear path forward, lawmakers should move SB 222 ahead and prove they are listening.