correct...prior to passage of the 17th, the state legislators voted and appointed the senators, that kept all elections local, as the person you sent to the state would be the ones appointing the people representing your state in the senate....once the general election of senators was made the law of the land, the political parties took control of what once was a state issue....
That sounds like a good idea. That way you would have the state intrest served. How often could they change tem in for a new model? Why did they change it to a regular election?