Home>Articles>As House approves D.C. statehood, N.J. votes along party lines

A street sign advocating statehood for Washington, D.C. (Photo: Michelle Kinsey Bruns.)

As House approves D.C. statehood, N.J. votes along party lines

Van Drew, who once co-sponsored statehood bill, now against it

By David Wildstein, April 22 2021 1:37 pm

New Jersey’s House delegation voted along party lines on Thursday on legislation that would grant statehood to Washington, D.C.

The House passed the bill, 216 to 208.

All ten Democrats from New Jersey voted yes, and all ten were co-sponsors of the measure.

The state’s two Republicans, Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton) and Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis), voted against it.

Van Drew had co-sponsored the statehood bill when he was a Democrat, but withdrew it after his December 2019 party switch.

The New Jersey votes were consistent with the full House, where no representative diverted from their party.

The measure now heads to the U.S. Senate, where Bob Menendez and Cory Booker are among the 44 co-sponsors.

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