Senator Mike Lee Cites "Two Perennially Democrat Seats" in Renewed Opposition to D.C. Statehood

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) recently voiced strong opposition to the proposed statehood for Washington, D.C., characterizing it as a politically motivated maneuver. In a social media post, Lee stated, > "That’s a cheap, partisan shortcut—one cynically designed to secure two perennially Democrat seats in the Senate." His remarks underscore a long-standing debate over the District's political status and representation.

Lee further argued that "DC isn’t a state and lacks the ability to become one," proposing that the District "must either remain a federal enclave or be retroceded to Maryland." He asserted that "Statehood isn’t a credible option." This stance aligns with his previous proposals for the District's governance and reflects a common Republican argument against D.C. statehood.

The idea of retrocession, where parts of D.C. would revert to Maryland, has historical precedent; a portion of D.C. ceded by Virginia was retroceded in 1846. Senator Lee has previously detailed this as a way for D.C. residents to gain congressional representation as Marylanders, while preserving a small federal core encompassing key government buildings. However, D.C. officials, including Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, have consistently rejected retrocession, stating neither D.C. nor Maryland is interested.

Lee's opposition extends to D.C.'s current limited self-governance. He, along with Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), introduced the "Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident (BOWSER) Act," which aims to repeal the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973. Proponents of this bill cite concerns over D.C.'s crime rates and alleged government corruption as reasons for greater federal oversight, arguing the city has "become a mess."

Conversely, advocates for D.C. statehood, including Mayor Muriel Bowser and Delegate Norton, argue that the District's nearly 700,000 residents pay federal taxes and serve in the military without full voting representation in Congress. They contend that D.C. has a larger population than two existing states, Vermont and Wyoming, and that denying statehood is a matter of civil rights and democratic equality, particularly given its significant Black population. The proposed state, "Washington, Douglass Commonwealth," would maintain a small federal district for national monuments and government offices.