Barely a quarter of Americans think the District of Columbia deserves to be a state, according to the results of poll released today by Rasmussen Reports. But opponents of DC statehood shouldn’t grin that only 25 percent of people think the District deserves taxation with representation. The poll is rather skewed.
Rasmussen, which queried 1,000 voters from Sept. 23-24, is known for its rightward slant, and Republicans are generally less inclined than Democrats to support DC statehood. But more important here is the question’s loaded wording.
Rasmussen asked: “The US Constitution designates the nation’s capital, Washington, DC, as a federal district and not a state. Should Washington, DC be a state?” In other words, the poll asked people if they had the nerve to tinker with the Constitution. Most did not, though had the question been limited to District residents barely a week before the start of a potential federal government shutdown that could close down DC’s local services, the numbers might have swung the other way.
The statehood question had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent, and was part of a larger poll asking voters about whether the United States needs more states. The survey’s full results are behind a paywall, but the poll does no favors for statehood movements elsewhere around the country, such as the movement of counties in southern Oregon and northern California to form a new state called Jefferson. Only 12 percent of respondents said adding more states would be a good idea.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
75 Percent of Americans Oppose Statehood for DC
Only one-quarter of those surveyed say the District should have taxation with representation.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Most Popular in News & Politics
What It Felt Like for a Virginia Marching Band to Win Metallica’s Contest
Meet the 2023 Washingtonians of the Year
What’s IN and OUT in DC Restaurant Trends for 2024
Introducing 8 of DC’s Most Stylish
Washingtonian Magazine
May 2024: Great Getaways
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
13 Major Concerts and Music Festivals in the DC Area This Spring
Mary Timony on Her Emotional New Album, “Untame the Tiger”
The Beatles in DC: A New Exhibit in Maryland Looks Back on Early Beatlemania
Northern Virginia High School Wins Metallica’s Marching Band Competition
More from News & Politics
Former Fiola GM Convicted of Murder Is Now in a Netflix Docuseries
These 5 DC Traffic Cams Are Issuing the Most Tickets Right Now
Farewell to Crystal City Underground, the DC Area’s Strangest Mall
Washington DC’s 500 Most Influential People of 2024
Inside the Urgent Effort to Preserve Black Newspapers
Maryland Has Renamed an Invasive Fish. Will It Matter?
Meet the 2024 Washington Women in Journalism Award Winners
In the Doghouse: Kristi Noem and 5 Other Canine Political Scandals