<P> The D.C. Republican Party has been a long - standing supporter of voting rights for the District of Columbia . However, nationally based Republicans have often been steadfast in their opposition to D.C. statehood . The 2016 Republican Party Platform advocated Washington D.C. remain a district . The Platform stated statehood for D.C. can only be advanced by a constitutional amendment, citing any other means would be' invalid' . The Platform states the last constitutional amendment proposal was' soundly rejected' by the states in 1976, and' should not be revived' . </P> <P> In November 2000, the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles began issuing license plates bearing the slogan "Taxation without representation". President Bill Clinton had these plates placed on the presidential limousines shortly before the end of his second term . However, President George W. Bush, in one of his first official acts as president, had the plates removed . The usage of "taxation without representation" plates was restored by President Barack Obama shortly before his second - term inauguration . Donald Trump continued to use the plates, though he stated he had "no position" regarding statehood or representation for the District . </P> <P> A September 2014 poll found that 49% of Americans opposed DC Statehood, while only 27% supported it . 53% of Independents and 67% of Republicans opposed it, but only 33% of Democrats did . However, when asked if DC should be represented as voters in other states are, by a voting Representative and two Senators 37% said yes and 31% said no . Other polling from the 1990s showed stronger support . A 1999 poll showed that 46% of Americans would support statehood . </P>

When did district of columbia become a state