WASHINGTON, D.C. (WNAX) – South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson is wading into the debate over making the District of Columbia a state.

Congressional Democrats plan to introduce a statehood bill.

Johnson says there are people in the District that don’t have representation in Congress.

Johnson says he is proposing moving parts of the District into Maryland.

Johnson says it will take some persuasion to get people behind the idea.

The District of Columbia has just over 700,000 residents, which would rank it ahead of Wyoming and Vermont.