The Convention of States Project is a national effort to utilize Article V of the U.S. Constitution to convene a Convention of the States, a tool our Founders provided that allows We the People to bypass Congress to propose amendments that Congress would never do on its own.
The process requires 34 state legislatures to pass a resolution that defines the scope of the convention. Our resolution authorizes the convention to debate amendments on term limits for federal officials, imposing fiscal restraints on and limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government. Any proposed amendment then would need to be ratified by 38 states.
Nineteen states have passed this resolution. North Carolina needs to be next.
North Carolina COS volunteers spent thousands of hours planning and executing an historic campaign effort in the 2022 election cycle for pro-COS candidates. Hundreds of volunteers dedicated their time, talents, and financial resources.
Why? Because they’re concerned for our country and the legacy we are leaving for future generations. Now we expect our legislators to use the power granted them by our Founders in Article V of the Constitution.
The COS Resolution, HJR 233, passed the North Carolina House in May 2021, but died in the Senate in 2022 for lack of support. After this third attempt we will start again in the 2023/24 legislative session.
While we have failed in previous attempts for a variety of reasons, we move forward into the 2023/24 session with hopeful hearts and trust that our legislators will be on the right side of history.
We are only getting stronger, with nearly 90,000 grassroots activists here in North Carolina. We are the largest conservative grassroots organization in the State of North Carolina. And no similar grassroots organization is building out the campaign infrastructure we are.
And as the saying goes — elections matter.
After the resolution died in the Senate Republican Caucus in July of this year, there was a great deal of frustration in the grassroots. Why would a constitutionally valid way that our state legislators can utilize to rein in an abusive, overbearing federal government be ignored? What would be our strategy going into the general election? Should we support any candidates?
Those questions were debated here in North Carolina along with our national organization leadership after the legislative session ended in July. And decisions were made.
It should now be crystal clear to legislators in the General Assembly what we have accomplished in the 2022 election cycle to support true constitutional conservatives.
COS first started campaigning in the 2020 election cycle. We only support candidates who publicly pledge their support to the COS resolution and are in tight races where we can make a difference.
Our efforts in the 2022 cycle expanded considerably, as we grew the number of supporters who are fed up with politics as usual, the growing national debt, and an over-bearing federal government. Citizens are looking for a way to make positive change.
Let’s take a look at what was accomplished. First in the 2022 primaries:
· In total, we campaigned for 12 candidates in the primary, 8 in the House and 4 in the Senate.
· We block walked, made get-out-the-vote (GOTV) phone calls to voters, and sent emails/texts to our supporters for 6 candidates, 4 in the Senate and 2 in the House.
· We made GOTV calls and sent emails/text to our supporters for 5 other candidates, 3 in the House and 2 in the Senate.
· We sent emails/texts to our supporters for 1 additional candidate in the House.
· Our national organization ran radio ads in key markets in support of several candidates.
· Of the 12 candidates we supported, 11 won their primary for an overall success rate of 91%.
Now, let’s look at the effort in the general election:
· In total, we campaigned for 31 candidates, 19 in the House and 12 in the Senate.
· We knocked on 4,664 doors in support of 10 candidates, 8 House and 2 Senate.
· We made 8,558 GOTV calls in support of 23 other candidates, 16 House and 7 Senate.
· A total of 38,114 GOTV text messages were sent in support of 31 candidates, 19 House and 12 Senate.
· We delivered a total of 22,872 text messages and 28,897 emails to COS supporters in support of all 31 candidates.
· Poll greeters handed out literature in multiple races.
· Our national organization ran 120 radio spots for 6 candidates, 3 in the House and 3 in the Senate.
· Of the 31 candidates we supported, 12 won in the House and 10 in the Senate for an overall success rate of 71%. Importantly, 2 won open seats and 1 unseated a non-COS supporter in the House. In the Senate, 1 won an open seat and 1 unseated a non-COS supporter.
Those in the General Assembly who have refused to exercise the power granted to them in Article V of the U.S. Constitution to help rein in an out-of-control federal government now realize we will not go away.
Our ability to campaign will only get stronger. Our effort transcends any one election cycle and any individual politician.
What’s next? Now that the election is behind us, we will be looking at who supports COS in the General Assembly and who does not. And preparing for the next legislative session.
As Margaret Thatcher said, “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” Buckle up.
Want to help and get involved? Go to www.conventionofstates.com and sign the petition.
Jeff Groh resides in western North Carolina and is a small business owner. He is also a Regional Captain for Convention of States Project, a non-partisan effort to rein in the expanding role of the federal government.