"expel all of our enemies from it and declare it the 51st state."

Your claiming FALSE something I never said fren.

I said: No, you cannot declare D.C. the 51st state. As a matter of fact, no state can be declared into existence, or out of existence then you launch off into some process by which D.C. might become a state.

You even admitted "It's not a declaration"

You scenario where D.C. could become a state by local vote, and congressional actions has major hurdles. D.C. is not like West Va, or South Dakota

Process for D.C. Statehood D.C. cannot become a state through a local vote alone. Statehood would require a combination of local action, congressional approval, and potentially a constitutional amendment due to D.C.'s unique status.

The steps typically proposed are: Local Initiative: D.C. residents could vote in a referendum to express support for statehood, as they did in 2016 when 86% approved a statehood proposal. However, this vote is symbolic and has no legal effect without federal action.

The D.C. government could draft a state constitution, as it did in 2016, to outline the structure of a potential state (proposed name: "New Columbia" or "State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth").

Congressional Approval: Legislation: Congress must pass a bill to admit D.C. as a state. This would typically involve a simple majority in both the House and Senate, as seen with other states admitted under Article IV, Section 3, Clause 1, which governs the admission of new states.

Challenges: The bill would need to address D.C.'s federal district status. Most proposals suggest carving out a smaller federal enclave (e.g., encompassing the Capitol, White House, and key federal buildings) to preserve the constitutional requirement for a federal district, while granting the remaining residential and commercial areas statehood.

Presidential Approval: The president would need to sign the statehood bill into law, though a veto could be overridden by a two-thirds majority in Congress.

Potential Constitutional Amendment: Some scholars argue that D.C.'s status as the federal district means statehood could require a constitutional amendment to alter its designation under Article I, Section 8, Clause 17. An amendment would need:Two-thirds approval in both the House and Senate. Ratification by three-fourths (38) of the states.

Others contend a simple act of Congress could suffice if the federal district is redefined, as Congress has plenary power over D.C. (e.g., precedents like the 1801 Organic Act or the 1973 Home Rule Act show Congress can modify D.C.'s governance without an amendment).

Key Obstacles Political Resistance: Statehood is politically contentious. D.C.'s heavily Democratic voting base (e.g., 92% voted for Biden in 2020) raises concerns among some Republicans about adding two likely Democratic senators, shifting Senate balance. This has historically stalled statehood bills (e.g., H.R. 51 passed the House in 2020 and 2021 but failed in the Senate).

Constitutional Debate: Some argue that creating a state from the federal district violates the Constitution's intent for an independent capital. Others counter that Congress’s authority over D.C. allows it to redefine the district’s boundaries.

23rd Amendment Issue: The 23rd Amendment (1961) grants D.C. electoral votes for president. If D.C. becomes a state, this amendment might need repeal or clarification, as the reduced federal enclave (with few residents) could still retain three electoral votes, creating an imbalance. Repeal would require a constitutional amendment.

Historical Precedent No federal territory like D.C. has become a state without significant federal action. Territories like Alaska and Hawaii became states through congressional acts after meeting criteria like population and governance stability. D.C.’s unique constitutional role complicates this process.

Retrocession (returning D.C. to Maryland, as was done with Virginia’s portion in 1846) is an alternative to statehood but faces resistance from both D.C. and Maryland residents. (This is what I mentioned in part)

Current Status (as of September 15, 2025) Recent legislative efforts, like H.R. 51, have pushed for statehood, but none have succeeded in becoming law. No major updates in 2025 (based on available data) indicate a change in D.C.’s status. A local vote in D.C. can signal support but lacks legal weight without Congress acting. No single vote process within D.C. can achieve statehood due to its federal status.

Conclusion Washington, D.C., cannot become a state solely by a local vote due to its constitutional designation as the federal district. Statehood would require congressional legislation to admit D.C. as a state and likely redefine the federal district, with potential need for a constitutional amendment to address Article I and the 23rd Amendment. Political and legal challenges make this a complex process beyond D.C.’s unilateral control.