Presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg promised to work with Congress for statehood of the District of Columbia if he is elected president during his speech on Wednesday at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting in the city.
“The time has come for D.C. to become a state – with full voting rights,” Bloomberg said. “And as president, I’ll work with Congress to make it happen!”
The presidential hopeful said that the District’s future was “brighter than ever” thanks to Mayor Muriel Bowser, adding that she was doing a terrific job and he hoped to be able to call her “Governor Bowser” soon.
Bloomberg’s position on whether to grant D.C. statehood was previously unclear.
Among other Democratic presidential candidates who announced support for D.C.’s statehood are Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar.
Bowser, who also spoke at the Conference of Mayors Winter, called on the Congress to pass gun control laws.
“We know that we really need the Congress to act on a national policy for common-sense gun regulations,” Bowser said. “I want the Congress to be able to pass a sensible bill that protects us.”
The House passed a bill last year to recognize D.C. as a state, which was followed by a congressional hearing on the issue at a House committee in September 2019.
Bowser Calls for Gun Control Laws on Federal Level During Mayors’ Conference