Most Americans Oppose DC Statehood: Gallup
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Although Washington, DC, residents have long wanted the US capital city to become the 51st US state, an overwhelming majority of Americans oppose DC statehood, a new Gallup poll has showed.
According to the poll released recently, 64 percent of Americans oppose DC statehood while only 29 percent voice support for a DC statehood proposal, Xinhua news agency reported.
Opinions about DC statehood differ largely by party, the poll also found.
While only 15 percent of Republicans favor it, Democrats are among the groups showing higher support, with around 40 percent in favor of it.
Meanwhile, 30 percent of Independents also approve of making DC a separate state.
Although the US Constitution affords Washington electoral votes in presidential elections, the capital city does not have any voting members in either chambers of Congress. In addition, Congress can review and block any policies passed by the city.
For decades, DC voters have pursued statehood, but more than a dozen statehood bills have failed to pass Congress.
Given Washington's traditionally strong leanings towards the Democratic Party, the Gallup poll pointed out that unless there is a Democratic majority in the House, a filibuster-proof Democratic majority in the Senate and a Democratic president, a DC statehood bill is unlikely to pass in Congress.
