U.S. House of Representatives Approve Washington D.C. Statehood

U.S. House Democrats voted Thursday to make Washington D.C. the 51st state, a move that would give over 700,000 citizens of the city representation in both chambers of Congress.

4th District Congressman Dan Newhouse said he unequivocally and enthusiastically voted no on the measure because the Constitution is clear Washington D.C. is a federal city. He stated he is all for those outside the federal Capitol campus to have representation, but there are ways to do that which don't go against the Constitution.

"I think back in the 1840's part of D.C. was actually given back to the State of Virginia for many reasons, but one of those was so people had representation in Congress," said Newhouse.

The Sunnyside Republican added he thinks the same thing could happen with other parts of the city, this time being given back to Maryland.

Democrats' push for D.C. statehood will likely die in the Senate like it did in 2020. The bill, which was approved on party lines in the House, would need ten Republican Senators to get the required 60 votes. Every state would then be required to vote on the matter.

If successful, Washington, District of Columbia would be renamed 'Washington, Douglass Commonwealth' after the first U.S. president George Washington and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.