Arn Pearson, executive director of the progressive watchdog group Center for Media and Democracy, also warned that a so-called runaway convention could be called to consider one subject but then decide to make other big constitutional changes.
Republicans control 60 percent of the state legislative chambers, potentially giving them a numerical advantage in selecting who would be delegates.
“If their ploy succeeds, the field will be thrown wide open for constitutional rewrites,” Pearson said. “Right-wing mega donors will spend millions to advance a sweeping agenda to limit federal powers. It’s not going to be an exercise in popular democracy.”