Hear directly from former Members of Congress about the challenges shaping today’s Capitol and communities. Through candid interviews, they discuss gerrymandering, partisan primaries, money in politics, hyper-partisanship, and structural hurdles in Congress, sharing how these issues affect representation, policymaking, and local communities. Their reflections also highlight potential reforms, from fairer districting and ranked choice voting to process improvements, that could strengthen governance and restore trust in American democracy.

Four Major Themes

Throughout the course of this project, four major themes were identified across political affiliations, geographies, and decades served: (1) Gerrymandering and Primaries, (2) Congressional Culture, (3) Reforms to Congress, and (4) A Divided America. The following videos explore each of these themes in depth and how each one impacts a Member’s ability to govern effectively.

1: Gerrymandering, Redistricting, and Partisan Primaries

In this video, Former Members of Congress from both parties share how partisan gerrymandering and closed primaries are undermining fair representation and fueling polarization. They describe how skewed maps and uncompetitive races leave little incentive for compromise, while offering solutions like independent redistricting commissions and ranked choice voting to create fairer districts and candidates who better reflect the will of voters.

2: Congressional Culture

This video features Former Members of Congress reflecting on the culture inside today’s Capitol and the structural incentives that drive partisanship. They discuss how skewed districts, partisan primaries, and the pursuit of political theater often overshadow the quieter work of legislating and compromise. Together, their perspectives reveal how these pressures have reshaped Congress itself, and why reforms are needed to restore accountability, balance, and a spirit of cooperation.

3: Reforms to Congress

This video looks at the structural challenges within Congress that make governing and compromise increasingly difficult. Former Members reflect on the decline of “regular order,” the burdens of the Congressional calendar, and the strain of juggling too many committees at once, issues that leave little time for real debate, collaboration, or connection with constituents. Their insights underscore both the frustrations with how Congress currently operates and the pressing need for reforms to strengthen its ability to function effectively.

4: A Divided America

This video looks at how polarization in Washington is rippling outward and reshaping daily life in communities across the country. Former Members of Congress reflect on how gerrymandering, partisan primaries, and money in politics, amplified by media that rewards conflict, are fueling divisions among voters. Their experiences show how national dysfunction doesn’t just stay in Congress, but filters into neighborhoods, schools, and local institutions, deepening mistrust and disconnection.

Recommendations For Reform

Former Members interviewed for this project agree that the rules of our political system are pushing lawmakers to the extremes and making it harder to govern. At the heart of the problem are gerrymandered districts and partisan primaries.

When congressional maps are drawn to guarantee one party’s victory, the real contest shifts to the primary. That means representatives are often chosen by a small, highly partisan slice of voters, not by the broader electorate.

To fix this, former Members recommend:

Expanding the use of independent redistricting commissions to take map-drawing out of partisan hands, such as Michigan’s “Voters Not Politicians” referendum.
Creating more competitive districts that require candidates to appeal to all voters, not just their party’s base.
Exploring ranked-choice voting, jungle primaries, and other electoral reforms that give voters more say and reduce the influence of extremes.

But changing how we draw districts and conduct primaries is only part of the solution. Congress itself also needs reform. The former Members interviewed recommend the following changes to the functioning of Congress:

A return to regular order, where committees, not party leaders, craft legislation.
Reforming the filibuster so it requires real debate, not just a procedural blockade.
Streamlining the Senate confirmation process so more time is spent on legislating, and less on political theater.

Revising the Congressional calendar, to balance time spent in Washington, D.C. and time spent in a Congressional district, and reduce the amount of weekly travel for each Member.

Finally, former Members stress the need to change congressional culture by:

Rewarding bipartisan “workhorses” instead of partisan “show horses,”
Building personal relationships across the aisle.
Rethinking the nonstop campaign fundraising that fuels division.

The message is clear: if we want a Congress that works, we must start by ending gerrymandering, reforming primaries, and creating real incentives for coalition-building. Only then can Congress return to its true purpose of deliberation, compromise, and governing for the good of the entire country.