“DC’s Eleanor Holmes Norton: A Lifetime of Defying the Odds!”
Since 1991, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton has been Washington, D.C.’s lone voice in Congress, tirelessly advocating for the district and pushing for a cause that has defined her career: statehood.
As the city’s sole federal representative, Norton, a Democrat, has fought alongside local leaders to secure full voting rights for D.C. residents. Despite multiple attempts, a D.C. statehood bill has yet to clear the Senate, where it faces a steep 60-vote hurdle. Many Republicans oppose the effort, citing constitutional concerns and the district’s overwhelmingly Democratic electorate—77% of voters are registered Democrats.
With Donald Trump back in the White House and Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, the path to D.C. becoming the 51st state seems more difficult than ever. But for Norton, adversity is nothing new.
At 87, now in her 18th term, she remains undeterred. A third-generation Washingtonian, she has watched her hometown evolve while continuously advocating for its future.
On the changes she’s seen in D.C.:
“Oh, it’s changed a great deal,” Norton said. “Of course, the aspiration we have in the district is for statehood. Although we’ve gotten that passed twice, that’s always the most difficult thing to achieve for any jurisdiction.”
On who paved the way for her:
“Shirley Chisholm has probably paved the way for me. She was the first African American woman elected to Congress and has been a real role model for women like me.”
On her proudest achievement:
“Getting my statehood bill passed twice in the House of Representatives. Nothing could be more important than that for the residents of the District of Columbia.”
On overcoming adversity:
“The only way to overcome adversity is to work hard. You can’t sit by and mourn or regret. You have to put in the effort to achieve what it takes—especially if you represent the District of Columbia.”