Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has put forth a proposal advocating for a significant restructuring of Washington D.C.'s political status, suggesting a "modified retrocession" plan. Under this plan, the majority of D.C. residents would gain full voting rights and representation by becoming Marylanders, while a "small federal enclave" encompassing the nation's capital would remain under exclusive congressional control. This initiative aims to address the long-standing issue of D.C.'s lack of full congressional representation.
The proposal serves as an alternative to full D.C. statehood, a movement largely supported by Democrats who argue for equal representation for the District's over 700,000 residents. Senator Lee's approach seeks to grant D.C. residents voting rights without creating a new state, which would likely add two Democratic senators to Congress. This avoids altering the balance of power in the Senate, a key concern for many Republicans.
As stated by Senator Lee, "This small federal enclave would remain under congressional control—allowing the centers of power in Washington to remain under exclusively federal control—while the rest of DC’s residents would gain full voting rights and representation as Marylanders." This distinction aims to preserve the unique federal nature of the capital while integrating residential areas into an existing state. The federal enclave would include key government buildings and monuments.
However, the retrocession concept faces strong opposition from D.C. residents and local officials, including Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). Norton has consistently argued that retrocession is inconsistent with D.C.'s pursuit of self-determination, emphasizing that the vast majority of D.C. residents voted for statehood in 2016. Maryland officials have also expressed little support for absorbing D.C.'s residential areas.
The debate over D.C.'s status highlights a fundamental disagreement on how to best provide its citizens with equitable representation. While proponents of statehood view it as the only path to full democratic rights, retrocession is presented by some Republicans as a compromise that addresses representation without creating a new state. The future of D.C.'s governance remains a contentious issue in national politics.