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Beto O’Rourke Becomes 14th Presidential Candidate to Endorse 51 for 51

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Friday, September 13, 2019

CONTACT: 
press@51for51.org

Houston, TX — Last night, Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke became the 14th presidential candidate to endorse 51 for 51, telling activists that he supports bypassing the filibuster in order to make Washington, D.C. the 51st state with just 51 votes in the Senate.

“With the House hearing on D.C. statehood legislation H.R. 51 happening in just a few days, Representative O’Rourke’s endorsement of 51 for 51 is both timely and crucial,” said Campaign Manager Stasha Rhodes. “Supporting D.C. statehood in a vacuum is simply not enough—bold, decisive change is necessary in the Senate to ensure the measure can pass with 51 votes, and Representative O’Rourke knows this.”

With reforming and strengthening our democracy a key election issue, young D.C. natives have been traveling the country urging candidates to not only voice their support for D.C. statehood, but to back a Senate rule change that would make statehood a reality, as a part of the 51 for 51 campaign.

O’Rourke is the 14th presidential candidate to pledge support for ending the disenfranchisement of the 700,000 tax-paying residents of Washington, D.C. In addition to O’Rourke, the current and former 2020 presidential candidates who have voiced their support for the 51 for 51 campaign are:

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51 for 51 is a coalition comprised of D.C.-based and national groups committed to equal representation rights for D.C.’s over 700,000 residents. The coalition of 20 progressive groups says American citizens living in the District deserve a voice in Congress and control over their own local laws.

Additional Information
Website: https://www.51for51.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/51for51

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