# Statehood for D.C.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 24, 2020, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442 "2020-09-24T21:15:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/181 "2020-10-26T19:55:37Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The Democrats consistently get more votes than the Republicans. The reason this isn’t reflected in the membership of Congress and the Presidency is because our political system gives some people greater voting weight. Note that in 2016, the Republican Party had more 1.4 million voters for the House of Representatives than the Democrats - and that was a downward swing. > **[2016 United States House of Representatives elections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections)** > > Paul Ryan > Republican > Paul Ryan > Republican > The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 8, 2016, to elect representatives for all 435 congressional districts across each of the 50 U.S. states to the 115th United States Congress. Non-voting members for the District of Columbia and territories of the United States were also elected. These elections coincided with the election of President Donald Trump, although his party lost seats in both chambers of Congress.... It’s true that was reversed in the 2018 HOR elections, but viewing the vote for the Presidency as an expression of party preference, especially when Trump is the Presidential candidate, is flawed. ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/182 "2020-10-26T20:18:42Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > have Republicans ever considered the possibility that supporting democracy and good representation would be good policy for themselves as well as the nation? Have the Democrats ever offered any compromises that would increase DC representation without gaining Congressional seats? The three big gains for DC were the 23rd amendment, which was endorsed by Eisenhower, and proposed by Congress during his administration, the District of Columbia Delegate Act from 1970 under Nixon, and the District of Columbia Home Rule Act from 1973, also under Nixon. That’s all a half-century ago, but were all moves to give DC residents more voting rights. Are there any current proposals to give DC voters any more voting rights, and do they involve any political trade-offs, besides DC statehood? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/183 "2020-10-26T20:49:57Z")
Both partisan, but only one side is pushing to get these Americans full representation in Congress. That’s a pretty significant difference. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/184 "2020-10-26T22:52:07Z")
How do you define full representation in Congress? The bills for retrocession have been sponsored by Republicans. These bills, if enacted, would give the people living in Washington full representation as residents of the state of Maryland. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/185 "2020-10-27T00:37:01Z")
That’s not what they’re asking for, and it doesn’t appear that MD wants that either. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/186 "2020-10-27T01:12:37Z")
True, but it undercuts the argument that only one side is fighting for principles. Both sides are willing to enact a law that would give the residents of Washington full representation and voting rights. So the difference between their positions is how this should be done. A Republican argument would be _“We’re willing to give them representation. We’re in agreement on that. The hold up is that the Democrats want to also get two more Democratic Senators as a bonus. They’re the ones holding representation hostage to their own partisan agenda.”_ ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/187 "2020-10-27T01:15:03Z")
I don’t actually accept that the Republicans are arguing this. Maybe one or two. But the party doesn’t seem interested in helping DC residents gain representation in any way at all. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/188 "2020-10-27T01:29:54Z")
Shouldn’t the phrase “a half-century ago” be a huge whacking clue that those events might not be relevant to today’s Republican party? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/189 "2020-10-27T14:54:19Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I don’t actually accept that the Republicans are arguing this. Maybe one or two. But the party doesn’t seem interested in helping DC residents gain representation in any way at all. You don’t? Strange then that the Republicans made this argument as recently as [October 6, 2020](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8539). ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/190 "2020-10-27T15:16:19Z")
One Republican, it appears. It’s not part of the party platform, it’s not a consistent goal or something Republicans talk about – it appears to be only something a few Republicans (at most) have offered as a token in response to efforts for DC statehood. I don’t buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/191 "2020-10-27T15:50:19Z")
He couldn’t even find a co-sponsor for the bill. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/192 "2020-10-29T01:57:58Z")
This is fucking stupid. Really really fucking stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/193 "2020-11-03T20:02:45Z")
No, it’s a thought experiment. How committed are Democrats to the principal of Congressional representation for the citizens of DC versus the benefit of the three Congressional seats DC statehood would bring them? This thread is a very small poll, but no-one has prioritised DC representation over the Congressional seats. But then, analysing your brief but vulgar response, I’m guessing you’re not into thought experiments; possibly not into detailed thoughts at all on this subject. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/194 "2020-11-03T20:10:17Z")
Looking at the numbers, suppose all residents of DC were given the right to vote for Maryland’s Representatives and Senators and correspondingly counted with Maryland for apportionment. Would this raise the number of Maryland’s representatives? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/195 "2020-11-03T20:53:49Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > This thread is a very small poll, but no-one has prioritised DC representation over the Congressional seats. Huh? > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I would just shrink down the District of Columbia; have it essentially be a small enclave around the National Mall containing the major government buildings. Incorporate the rest of the city of Washington, where the people live, back into Maryland. > > This way you wouldn’t be doing any major changes in the political balance in Congress but the people would have representation. . ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/196 "2020-11-03T21:02:09Z")
Mea Culpa. I suppose meant to state that no one who is ardently advocating DC statehood is showing signs of being willing to accept a bipartisan compromise. But yes, you absolutely are offering an alternate solution that provides DC with Congressional representation - and it’s a better solution than my thought experiment. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/197 "2020-11-03T22:29:33Z")
I’d do it if that was the only possibility. But it’s not – giving them full representation as a state, as the residents wish, would be the best option, and since it’s a possible option, why shouldn’t we pursue it? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/198 "2020-11-03T23:22:05Z")
As for whether Republicans are more motivated by race or party, have we already forgotten North Carolina’s unconstitutional voting restrictions? The governor commissioned a study of how black people vote, and then based on the results of that study, implemented measures designed to decrease black turnout. He didn’t target Democratic voters (of whatever color); he targeted black voters (of whatever party). It would certainly have been more effective to target by party, and it probably even would have been legal… but that’s not what he did. Oppressing blacks isn’t something that Republicans do to further their goals; it is their goal. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/199 "2020-11-03T23:57:43Z")
The GOP: Official Party of White Supremacy since Nixon. If you don’t make that your fundamental premise, no argument can be taken seriously. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442/200 "2020-11-04T02:49:16Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > This is fucking stupid. Really really fucking stupid _ **Moderating** _ And this is pretty fucking aggressive for this forum. Dial it back. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statehood-for-d-c/921442.md?page=11)