Poll Finds Most Americans Don’t Want DC Statehood

Though the idea is gaining momentum within the Democratic Party, a new poll released Monday shows a majority of Americans are not in favor of making Washington, D.C., the nation’s 51st state.

The Gallup poll shows just 29% of Americans support making the nation’s capital a state, while 64% oppose it. Self-identified Democrats are the most likely to favor statehood for the District, with 39% in favor and 51% opposed.

Just 15% of Republicans support statehood, which would likely add two reliably blue seats to the Senate and one to the House.

Gallup notes there has never been much support for Washington, D.C., statehood, with the proposal hovering between 20 and 31% support in a trio of polls conducted over the past three decades.

Nevertheless, House Democrats have supported making the capital a state since taking over the majority, first endorsing the idea in a sweeping elections reform bill that passed in March.

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