When speaking with Scott Lewis, it’s clear that his dedication to the Convention of States (COS) movement comes from a deeply personal place. A father and grandfather, Scott is driven by a desire to secure a stable future for the next generations. His belief that America is on an unsustainable path led him to COS, where he now serves as a district captain in South Dakota, working tirelessly to inform others about the power to bring about lasting change.
Scott’s journey into COS began during President Trump’s first term. While he initially felt optimistic about the country’s direction, the swift reversals in policy after the 2020 election made him realize that true reform required something permanent. “All America ever does is bounce along the bottom of the river,” he observed, referencing how each change in political leadership erases the progress of the previous administration. After discovering COS on Facebook and following the movement for a while, Scott decided to take action, signing the petition and eventually stepping into a leadership role after retirement.
Scott spent nearly 40 years as a UPS driver before working another six years as a meat cutter at Sam’s Club. While his career might not seem political on the surface, he sees his work ethic and life experience as vital to his activism. “They’re both blue-collar jobs, but they’re demanding, hard work,” he explained. “I put in my back, sweat, and blood, and I had a pretty nice retirement built up. But wow, I could lose it all so fast.” Concerned about the economic instability and government overreach that could impact his retirement savings, Scott became even more determined to push for structural reforms through COS.
One of the toughest challenges Scott mentioned he faces as a district captain is mobilizing volunteers. While many people are willing to sign the COS petition, fewer are willing to actively engage. “A lot of them hardly want a phone call,” he noted. Some even unsubscribe from updates. However, he’s found that personal phone calls, rather than mass emails, are key to making a real connection. “Once I get them on the phone and have a conversation, that’s a deal breaker—it gets me through the door.” Another major challenge he’s tackling is the persistent misinformation surrounding COS, particularly fears about a runaway convention. Scott is committed to dispelling these myths, advocating for better education on the topic, and ensuring that legislators are well-informed. “I’m going after this misinformation harder from here on out because I’m tired of that camp winning.”
Scott has also encountered resistance from legislators who should, in theory, align with COS’s principles. Despite some state representatives being staunch conservatives, they refuse to support the movement. When asked how to combat this, Scott’s advice is blunt: “Find someone to primary them.” He acknowledges that it’s difficult to recruit new candidates, but he sees it as necessary for progress.
A key legislative focus for Scott moving forward is ensuring that state commissioning papers for COS delegates explicitly mandate a “one state, one vote” rule. He believes this would provide stronger safeguards against concerns of procedural manipulation at a convention. Additionally, he wants to clarify the role of Congress in determining whether legislators or delegates vote on proposed amendments, ensuring states retain their power in the process. Despite these challenges, Scott has had his share of victories. One of his proudest moments came when he secured a ‘yes’ vote from a newly elected senator in his district. “I reached out to him back when he was in the middle of the primaries, and we kept working back and forth,” Scott recalled. The night before the vote, the senator even called Scott to pray with him. “That was pretty cool,” he said.
For those considering getting involved in COS, Scott’s advice is straightforward: start by signing the petition and marking yourself as a volunteer. From there, opportunities will open up. To new district captains, he emphasizes the variety of roles they can play, from calling volunteers and contacting legislators to running booths at events. “You get to do a lot of cool things,” he said.
For those who are still working and worry about balancing activism with other responsibilities, Scott reminds them to prioritize. “God, family, country. If you can give two minutes a day or two hours a month, we’ll take whatever you can give.” Even simply talking to friends and family about COS can make a huge difference.
Looking at the broader picture, Scott sees education and training as the biggest obstacles to COS’s success. He believes the movement needs to better equip activists with responses to misinformation and ensure that the grassroots structure is strong.
Scott exemplifies the kind of determined, strategic activism that keeps the COS movement growing. His willingness to adapt, educate, and push forward despite obstacles makes him a key player in the fight for constitutional reform. And as he continues his work, he remains focused on one goal- ensuring that future generations inherit a country where the people, not the politicians, hold the power.
