washington long-frustrated backers statehood district columbia pin hop first-ever referendum tuesday long-shot bid become 51st u.s. state invoke colonial-era demand taxation without representation supporters say become state would end washingtonians status second-class citizens lack representation congress opponents dismiss referendum fool errand destine fail partisan political hurdle need amend u.s. constitution procedure accomplish 17 time since 1789. district columbia carve serve nation capital state 672,000 residents vote representative senate house representatives although pay federal tax though delegate house yes vote could help pressure new congress president either democrat hillary clinton republican donald trump admit district columbia new state though even advocate admit unlikely anytime soon yes vote would simply expression public support statehood non-binding measure without legal force statehood way right responsibilities citizens unite state district columbia council chairman phil mendelson say overwhelmingly democratic capital city feed republican lawmakers espouse right state cities self-governance interfere local issue abortion marijuana legalization mendelson say antithetical democratic principles seem bother folks say referendum seek upend constitution provision give congress legislative control district columbia voters cast single yes vote referendum four part admission state boundaries approval constitution guarantee representative form government new state would embrace current 68-square-mile 176-square-km district except core federal property around white house capitol monument-rich national mall district council approve referendum unanimously washington post poll november 2015 show 67 percent residents back statehood democratic party national platform also support idea part state large part constitution apply say statehood advocate ann loikow mayor muriel bowser statehood backers take vote design successful bid 1790s tennessee federal territory become state referendum petition congress supporters skeptics say even referendum pass would face dead end congress republicans would oppose statehood since would add democratic senators representative congress besides political obstacles roger pilon constitutional scholar libertarian cato institute call statehood quest fool errand constitutional obstacles district become state congress would propose amendment constitution would win two-thirds majority vote senate house even amendment could win approval house congress would face another big hurdle approval legislatures least three-fourths 50 state washingtonians try achieve statehood never up-or-down referendum congress ignore statehood petition include constitution voters ratify 1980s house representatives reject statehood bill 1993 fail reach senate vote constitutional amendment vote right congress fizzle 1980s freedom 'fool 's errand d.c. vote statehood referendum