Project No Cap adds Yuval Levin and John Hesse to leadership

Project No Cap on Aug. 4, 2026 expanded its advisory and board leadership with policy scholar Yuval Levin and government affairs executive John Hesse. The group says the moves support its push to repeal the 1929 cap on House membership and widen debate over congressional representation.

Why it matters: - Project No Cap is trying to build momentum for repealing the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929, the law that froze the U.S. House at 435 members. - The group argues that a larger House would improve constituent access and make Congress more representative of a population that has nearly tripled since 1929. - The leadership additions signal an effort to broaden the coalition behind that case with policy, legislative and bipartisan experience.

What happened: - Project No Cap announced on Aug. 4, 2026 that Yuval Levin joined its Advisory Board and John Hesse was elected to its Board of Directors. - Levin is director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute and holds the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy. - Hesse is principal at The Vogel Group, where he advises clients on federal policy and legislative strategy.

The details: - Levin has written several books, including American Covenant, A Time to Build and The Great Debate. - Levin’s work has focused on democratic institutions and public trust in government. - Levin said expanding the House offers a “plausible, straightforward, constitutionally sound path” to a more functional and representative chamber. - Hesse brings decades of experience in public policy and government relations. - Hesse said restoring a House that scales with the country is “not a partisan reform” but a return to the founding promise of representation. - Jeff Mayhugh, Project No Cap president, said Hesse’s experience navigating Congress and bipartisan relationships will help expand outreach and advance practical reforms. - Walter Clapp, founder and vice president, said the organization wants elected officials to remain closely connected to the people they represent.

Between the lines: - The appointments add academic and legislative credibility to a reform campaign that is still trying to turn a structural argument into a broader public issue. - Project No Cap is framing the House cap as both a representation problem and a governance problem, which gives the group two ways to make its case. - The organization’s emphasis on bipartisan conversation suggests it is trying to avoid being seen as a partisan redistricting fight.

What's next: - Project No Cap said Levin and Hesse will help guide its growing coalition of scholars, civic leaders and policymakers. - The organization said it will continue public education, research and nonpartisan engagement to advance repeal of the Permanent Apportionment Act. - Project No Cap plans to keep pushing the argument that the House should grow alongside the U.S. population.

The bottom line: - Project No Cap is betting that new credibility at the top will help turn a long-running institutional complaint into actionable reform.