A sizable majority of Americans think the District should have a full voting member in the House, but reaction is mixed to a bill pairing a new D.C. seat with an extra representative for Utah, according to a national Washington Post poll.

Overall, 61 percent of adults polled Sunday say the nation’s capital should have a full House representative, with majorities agreeing across party lines.

But only 49 percent back the D.C. voting rights bill that cleared the House last week and that is headed for the Senate.

Why the drop-off in support for the current bill? It’s not due to Americans being deeply concerned about its constitutionality. Instead, it looks like the difference actually has to do with Democrats not wanting to yield that potential extra vote to cancellation by an addition Republican seat for Utah. Just as loyal partisanship is no doubt behind many Republicans’ willingness to speak out against the D.C. Voting Rights Act, it appears Democrats feel the need to wave the party flag against the compromise created by Del. Norton and Rep. Tom Davis (R- Va.).

Statehood adherents and others who have been vocally disappointed with the notion of settling for only 1/3 of the representation that states receive will likely also be bolstered by this latest poll. We certainly sympathize with the sentiment that D.C. shouldn’t have to compromise to get congressional representation — but we’ve also always respected the pragmatic approach voting rights activists have adopted over the last couple of years. The one thing we all seem to agree on is this: America wants representation for the District of Columbia.

What do you make of the latest WaPo poll?

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