Opinion

I was hesitant about D.C. statehood. Now I believe it’s the only path forward.

Steny H. Hoyer, a Democrat, is majority leader in the U.S. House, where he represents Maryland’s 5th Congressional District.

The most fundamental premise upon which American democracy stands is the right of every citizen to cast a vote and have that vote counted equally. From Bunker Hill to Bull Run, from Seneca Falls to Selma, the arc of our history has been shaped by the determination of Americans to have a say in their own future.