The proposal, introduced by Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), would reincorporate Arlington and Alexandria into the District of Columbia, reshaping the capital from its current incomplete diamond configuration into what supporters describe as a slanted square. Local Republican figures have swiftly condemned the effort as lacking genuine intent.
Arlington Republican official Hurtt characterized the legislation as a platform-building exercise divorced from serious governance. "Senators want to be president, and congressmen want sound bites and clips to raise money," Hurtt said. "It's just not serious." He warned that the proposal represents "a very dangerous pathway to D.C. statehood," which he said all Republicans oppose, and described it as the work of "a member of Congress looking for a platform, looking to raise money, and not seriously thinking about the consequences of what this legislation would realistically do."
Hurtt acknowledged the proposal may hold appeal beyond Washington's political establishment but dismissed its prospects in either chamber of Congress or at the ballot box. "It isn't going anywhere in Congress, and it's certainly not going anywhere in the ballot box," he stated.
Opposition to the measure extends beyond Republican ranks. Rep. Don Beyer, the Democratic representative currently serving Virginia's 8th Congressional District, which encompasses both Arlington and Alexandria, has voiced fierce opposition. Beyer called the legislation unconstitutional and dismissed it as "a stupid waste of time." He added that Republicans unhappy with Virginia's recent redistricting outcome should accept responsibility rather than pursue such alternatives, noting that a referendum on April 21 shifted the state's congressional map from a 6-5 Democratic majority to a 10-1 Democratic majority.
