[Pelham]

Part of the now-forgotten push for direct election of Senators was the perception that Senators were being selected by power brokers that represented campaign donors instead of the people of the states. Pretty much the same situation that has everyone furious with the GOPe. The 17th Amendment was probably just an ineffective attempt to deal with a perennial problem.

[Mack the knife]

Part of the now-forgotten push for direct election of Senators was the perception that Senators were being selected by power brokers that represented campaign donors instead of the people of the states...

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A recent History channel episode recounted how 2 copper barons bribed the newly elected Wyoming legislature to appoint their guys as US Senators in the 1890s. One legislator was so disgusted that he leaked the bidding war to the NY Times, which published all.

Another reason was when the Governor and the State legislature could not agree on a candidate, resulting in no appointment.