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
May 5, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
May 5, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
May 4, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
May 4, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
May 1, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
May 1, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
April 30, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:46
April 30, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
April 29, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
April 29, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
April 28, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
April 28, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
April 27, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
April 27, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
April 24, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
April 24, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
April 23, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
April 23, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
April 22, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
April 22, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
April 21, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
April 21, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
April 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
April 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
Active loading indicator