The posts of shadow United States senator and shadow United States representative are held by elected or appointed government officials from subnational polities of the United States that lack congressional vote. While these officials are not seated in either chamber of Congress,they seek recognition for their subnational polity,up to full statehood. This would enfranchise them with full voting rights on the floor of the U.S. House and Senate,alongside existing states. As of 2021,only the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico currently have authorized shadow delegations to Congress.
The term "51st state" in American political discourse refers to the idea of adding a new state to the Union,either by granting statehood to one of the U.S. territories,splitting an existing state,admitting another country,or granting statehood to the Washington D.C. This would increase the number of states in the United States from 50 to 51. The last state to be admitted was Hawaii in 1959,preceded by Alaska,which became a state just months earlier in 1959,and Arizona in 1912.
The District of Columbia statehood movement is a political movement that advocates making the District of Columbia a U.S. state,to provide the residents of the District of Columbia with voting representation in the Congress and complete control over local affairs.
Voting rights of citizens in the District of Columbia differ from the rights of citizens in the 50 U.S. states. The United States Constitution grants each state voting representation in both houses of the United States Congress. It defines the federal district as being outside of any state,and does not grant it any voting representation in Congress. The Constitution grants Congress exclusive jurisdiction over the District in "all cases whatsoever".
Paul Eric Strauss is an American politician and attorney serving as the senior United States shadow senator from the District of Columbia since 1997. He succeeded Jesse Jackson,the first person to hold the elected position of a shadow senator for Washington,D.C. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
The District of Columbia holds general elections every two years to fill various D.C. government offices,including mayor,attorney general,members of the D.C. Council,members of the D.C. State Board of Education,and members of its Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. Special elections may be held to fill vacancies at other points in time. Additionally,citywide ballot measures may be proposed and voted on.
Michael Donald Brown is an American politician serving as the junior United States shadow senator from the District of Columbia,having served since 2007.
A referendum on statehood for the District of Columbia was held on November 8,2016. It was the first referendum on statehood to be held in the district. The District of Columbia was created following the passage of the Residence Act on July 9,1790,which approved the creation of a national capital,the City of Washington on the Potomac River.
On November 3,2020,the District of Columbia held elections for several local and federal government offices. Its primary elections were held on June 2,2020.
On November 3,2020,the District of Columbia held a U.S. House of Representatives election for its shadow representative. Unlike its non-voting delegate,the shadow representative is only recognized by the district and is not officially sworn or seated.
On November 6,2018,the District of Columbia held a U.S. House of Representatives election for its shadow representative. Unlike its non-voting delegate,the shadow representative is only recognized by the district and is not officially sworn or seated. Incumbent Shadow Representative Franklin Garcia won reelection unopposed.
On November 8,2016,the District of Columbia held a U.S. House of Representatives election for its shadow representative. Unlike its non-voting delegate,the shadow representative is only recognized by the district and is not officially sworn or seated. Incumbent Shadow Representative Franklin Garcia won reelection unopposed.
On November 4,2014,the District of Columbia held a U.S. House of Representatives election for its shadow representative. Unlike its non-voting delegate,the shadow representative is only recognized by the district and is not officially sworn or seated. Incumbent Shadow Representative Nate Bennett-Fleming did not run for reelection and Franklin Garcia was elected in his place. The election was held concurrently with a mayoral election.
On November 6,2012,the District of Columbia held a U.S. House of Representatives election for its shadow representative. Unlike its non-voting delegate,the shadow representative is only recognized by the district and is not officially sworn or seated. Incumbent Shadow Representative Mike Panetta declined to run for a fourth term. Nate Bennett-Fleming was elected in his place.
The Washington,D.C.,Admission Act,often referred to simply as the D.C. Admission Act,is a bill introduced during the 116th United States Congress. The bill would grant Washington,D.C.,admission into the Union as a state. The bill was originally introduced in the 116th Congress on January 3,2019,and was reintroduced on January 4,2021,and January 9,2023,in the 117th and 118th Congresses. The United States House of Representatives passed it on April 22,2021.
On November 13,1998,the District of Columbia held a U.S. House of Representatives election for its shadow representative. Unlike its non-voting delegate,the shadow representative is only recognized by the district and is not officially sworn or seated. One-term incumbent Sabrina Sojourner declined to run for reelection and was succeeded by fellow Democrat Tom Bryant.
On November 8,1994,the District of Columbia held a U.S. House of Representatives election for its shadow representative. Unlike its non-voting delegate,the shadow representative is only recognized by the district and is not officially sworn or seated. Two-term incumbent and inaugural office-holder Charles Moreland declined to run for reelection and was succeeded by fellow Democrat John Capozzi.
On November 8,2022,a general election was held for the Council of the District of Columbia. Elections were held in four ward districts as well as for chairperson of the council and two at-large seats. Democrats remained in control of the council,electing six out of the seven positions that were on the ballot. Independent Kenyan McDuffin,formerly the Democratic councilperson for Ward 5,was also elected.
On November 8,2022,the District of Columbia held a U.S. House of Representatives election for its shadow representative. Unlike its non-voting delegate,the shadow representative is only recognized by the district and is not officially sworn or seated. Incumbent Shadow Representative Oye Owolewa was reelected to a second term.
The 2024 United States Shadow Senator election in the District of Columbia took place on November 5,2024,to elect a shadow member to the United States Senate to represent the District of Columbia. The member is only recognized by the District of Columbia and not officially sworn or seated by the U.S. Senate. Democratic candidate Ankit Jain defeated Republican candidate Nelson Rimensnyder to succeed Democrat Mike Brown in the position.
