The D.C. Council unanimously approved the name “State of Washington, D.C.” in its push for statehood on Tuesday, rejecting the long-favored name of New Columbia.
However, instead of the D.C. standing for District of Columbia, it would refer to Douglass Commonwealth, in honor of Frederick Douglass, a black abolitionist who lived in Washington from 1877 to 1895. His family’s final home is atop a hill by the Anacostia River and is a National Historic Site.
The proposed name comes three weeks before Election Day, when city residents will vote on whether to approve a draft state constitution. However, the ballots will not reflect the last-minute name change to “State of Washington, D.C.” Voter guides issued by the D.C. Board of Elections refer to the “State of New Columbia.”
But even if voters approve the constitution, congressional approval is considered a long shot.
