With the Voting Rights Bill unlikely to make the Senate Floor before the long August Recess, you might well be wondering what this is all about. But, we were thinking it might be good to see where the various presidential candidates stand with regard to DC’s Voting Rights:

For the Democrats:

Barack Obama (Senator, IL) For DC Voting Rights:

Currently a co-sponsor of SR 1257

Hillary Clinton (Senator, NY) For DC Voting Rights

Currently a co-sponsor of SR 1257

Mike Gravel (Former Rep, AK) Unknown

Oddly, as on most issues, Gravel was eerily silent on DC Voting Rights.

For the Republicans:

Rudy Giuliani (Former Mayor, NYC) Unknown

I cannot find a public stance from Mayor Giuliani. Could be sympathetic, though, as he was a mayor.

Mitt Romney (Former Governor, MA) Unknown

I cannot find a public stance from Governor Romney.

Ron Paul (Representative, TX-14) Against DC Voting Rights:

Voted against HR 1905 which would grant DC a voting member of the House of Reps. Of course, also said some really skeevy stuff about DC back in the day, including: “Given the inefficiencies of what D.C. laughingly calls the `criminal justice system,’ I think we can safely assume that 95 percent of the black males in that city are semi-criminal or entirely criminal.” (Google Cached from the Houston Chronicle.

Fred Thompson (Former Senator, TN)* Unknown

Thompson hasn’t spoken on this issue directly, but is a strong states’ rights proponent, and may likely be against the dilution of the power of the states.

*please note that Thompson hasn’t yet declared he is running.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs