Skip to main content
Back to Show
PBS News Hour

The constitutional and political obstacles to D.C. statehood

The roughly 700,000 residents of Washington, D.C., have no voting representation in Congress -- yet pay more taxes per capita than anyone else in the U.S. On Friday, the House of Representatives voted for the first time ever to turn the nation’s capital into its 51st state. But D.C. statehood is not likely to happen soon, for reasons both constitutional and political. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Support Provided By
Season
November 8, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
26:44
November 8, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
November 7, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:41
November 7, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
November 6,  2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
November 6, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
November 5, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
November 5, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
November 4, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:45
November 4, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
November 3, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
November 3, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
November 2, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
26:45
November 2, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
November 1, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
26:45
November 1, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
October 31, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
October 31, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
October 30, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
October 30, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
October 29, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
October 29, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
October 28, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
October 28, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
Active loading indicator