Four Possible Places to Become the 51st State

Under the Constitution, Congress has the power to admit a new state into the Union. There are many possible territories and countries as possible 51st states.

4. Western California

Estimated Electoral Votes: 30-40

Population: (California has 33,871,648 people)

Western California would separate rural and urban California areas from each other. The western part of California tends to be more liberal and urban. The western part also controls most of the Californian state government. This is not talked about very seriously.

3. Downstate New York

Estimated Electoral Votes: 20-30

Population: (New York City has 8,274,527 people)

Downstate New York becoming a state would separate rural and urban areas of New York from each other. This is not very seriously talked about though.

2. Puerto Rico

Estimated Electoral Votes:

Population: 3,994,259 people

1. District of Columbia

Estimated Electoral Votes: 1-3

Population: 591,833 people (2008)

Although District of Columbia already has state-like powers according to the District of Columbia Home Rule Act there are many who want more representation. This makes it a very likely place because of the small changes that would take place if it would become a state. This is also an important place in politics because the president, vice president, and Congress reside in this territory. Some think that making Washington D.C. a state would make the federal government bias (which was the original reason it ceded from Maryland in the first place).

Other Honorable Mentions:

7. Northern Georgia

6. Guam

5. Alberta

This article was inspired by the Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state