[ClearCase_guy]

why would a bunch of rich guys on the State Legislature get to choose their candidate for the U.S. Senate?

I think the concern is that Mark Zuckerberg or other interests outside the state may be able to sway popular votes within a state. The US Senator for the state may "owe favors" to people across the country. However, if the elected state legislators are choosing a US Senator to represent the interests of the state, then there is a good chance that the interests of the state may actually be represented.

I'm in MA. Does Elizabeth Warren care about MA? Not as far as I can tell. She's a Party activist. She's a national figure. She has an agenda she's working on, and it is not a MA agenda.

If the MA state legislature chose someone to represent MA in Washington DC, then there would be an expectation that the Senator would support MA interests.

[MinorityRepublican]

However, if the elected state legislators are choosing a US Senator to represent the interests of the state, then there is a good chance that the interests of the state may actually be represented.

It will be easier for Mark Zuckerberg to bribe the State Legislators.