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Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) says her colleagues in the House of Representatives are taking note of Tuesday night’s special election in which a referendum claiming budget autonomy for the District. The ballot measure amends D.C.’s Home Rule Charter to free the city from congressional oversight over the portion of its annual budget funded by local tax revenue.

In order to become a reality, though, the amendment, like all local laws, must first survive a trip through Congress. But Norton’s office says conversations about shepherding the referendum through the review process are already underway. “I am working to head off any congressional efforts to block or overturn the referendum or to penalize the District for pursuing the referendum,” she says in a news release.

So far, though, the conversations have shown some favor toward budget autonomy, Norton spokesman Daniel van Hoogstraten says. “The Congresswoman says that the robust discussions are positive because we continue to have bipartisan support for budget autonomy,” he writes in an email. He won’t say with whom Norton has been meeting, though.

But Norton is likely banking on the support of several members of the House’s Republican leadership; her office’s news release mentions Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia and Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa of California, both of whom have expressed their support for budget autonomy. Although the ballot measure passed with an overwhelming majority, both Norton and Issa expressed their reservations when it was introduced.

However, if the “robust discussions” are as positive Norton’s office says, it bodes well for the referendum’s chances. It is unlikely to be blocked by the Democratic majority in the Senate, or vetoed by President Obama if it reaches his desk.