Major Presidential Candidate Endorses DC Statehood

Another major presidential candidate has revealed on a national stage that they are in favor of D.C. statehood. This time it's Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind. who has become a dark horse in the 2020 Democratic presidential campaign.

Buttigieg listed D.C. statehood as one of several fundamental changes he hoped to make as president during Thursday night's debate among other contenders for the Democratic nomination.

"When I propose the actual structural democratic reforms that might make a difference -- end the electoral college, amend the Constitution if necessary to clear up Citizens United, have D.C. actually be a state, and depoliticize the supreme court with structural reform -- people look at me funny," he said.

.@PeteButtigieg: "When I propose the actual structural democratic reforms that might make a difference... have D.C. actually be a state... people look at me funny." #DCStatehood pic.twitter.com/nu4bbT5n2A
— Students for D.C. Statehood (@StudentsforDC) July 31, 2019

Had to thank @PeteButtigieg personally for the #DCStatehood support at the #DemocraticDebate tonight. While most #Democratic candidates support it, he was the first to raise the issue in a Presidential #Debate. A historic first for #DC pic.twitter.com/bc1KjxNO63
— Senator Paul Strauss (@SenPaulStrauss) July 31, 2019

Buttigieg is the latest in a growing list of D.C. statehood supporters, including fellow presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Warren tweeted back in January that although D.C. has more residents than Wyoming or Vermont, District residents "don't have an equal voice in our government," and called on followers to sign a petition demanding that D.C. become the 51st state.

However, while D.C. statehood has a chance to pass the Democrat-controlled House and advance further than it ever has, it has no chance at getting through the Republican-controlled Senate or President Trump because it would virtually guarantee two new Democratic U.S. senators and one U.S. representative. Instead, Republicans have suggested that the District be absorbed into Maryland, which is already heavily Democratic.

D.C. statehood also still has a long way to go to earn popular support among Americans. A Gallup poll in June found that 64 percent of Americans opposed making D.C. the 51st state and just 29 percent supported it. Even among Democrats, the proposal had just 39 percent support.