Opinion of Puerto Rico

[Virginiá]

I find the idea of admitting DC at the same time as merging MD and DE terrible.

Would make more sense to merge DC and MD.  Delaware was always separate.

We should definitely admit DC as a state (or incorporate it withing Maryland).  Unlike puertorriqueños, the residents of DC want statehood, and all the privileges and burdens thereunto appertaining.  

It seems wrong to me somehow to let partisan advantage or disadvantage factor into these decisions. The people of DC deserve a voting member of congress regardless of their political affiliation.

It is, but unfortunately that is the way things are. Republicans know that giving DC statehood is the same as giving Democrats 2 permanent Senators and 1 permanent US House member. Republicans have not had more than a 55 member Senate majority in almost 100 years, so DC statehood would significantly hurt their ability to maintain even a simple majority in the US Senate.

Some day, hopefully. Even if just for partisan reasons, this is one of the main things I hope Democrats do this whenever they take back Congress. It has the advantage of being something long overdue, completely fair and deserved, and gives a big advantage to Democrats in the Senate. Honestly, it is difficult to understand why they are not pushing hard for this already. After all, it won't require anything more than a simple bill. Reduce the size of the federal district to the hill/primary federal buildings only, then make the rest a state.

I'd love to see Republicans trying to fight such a thing. After all, they'd essentially be arguing that over 500,000 law-abiding citizens should be disenfranchised / shouldn't have fair representation - A population bigger than several states

[Virginiá]

Both Puerto Rico and D.C. will naturally give Democrats the advantage and there is no other possible new state to balance it (Guam is the most Republican of territories, but its just too small in population to become a state).

Do you think it's plausible that Democrats could try to do this for at least one of those, with or without the GOP next time they get significant majorities?

Also, they could allow part of a state to secede from another. Eastern Washington and part of Colorado have expressed that desire if only in passing as they are rapidly losing a common interest with the significantly more liberal / populated portions of their states.

(Also, I'm a bit cautious to consider the filibuster as I have a feeling, even a hope, that it will be significantly altered to prevent obstruction in the near future)