Name: Iulia Huiu 

Occupation: Consultant 

Hometown: Romania 

Tell me a little bit about yourself. How long have you lived in DC? 

My home country is Romania — I had been living in Romania until 2017 when I moved to Washington, DC. When I was born, Romania was a communist country, so I spent my childhood in communism. I basically was born not being free — in a constrained environment that limited not only what was possible, but how you saw yourself as a human being: what you can say, what you can’t say, what you learn in school, how you need to behave. I didn’t know that I didn’t know how freedom [looks]. I was still very young when the Romanian Revolution happened, and when the Berlin Wall fell, and [when] communism fell, and I grew up in the transition from communism to democracy, from an authoritarian regime to a democratic regime. It was this experience that sparked my passion for politics, for democracy and freedom.

 

I remember thinking when I was a child that I wanted to be like those people who fought against the communist dictatorship, who stood for democracy, who were willing to sacrifice themselves for freedom. I was inspired by the historical events that led to the fall of communism and the people who made it possible. So basically, that’s how I started studying politics and getting involved in politics. I believed this was the best way I could contribute and I could help empower other people. I studied Classical Languages (Latin and Ancient Greek) and Political Science, I have an MA in Political Science and one in Public Administration, and I am about to finish my PhD in Political Science. I also became a political analyst and strategy consultant. I am specialized in creating and implementing strategies, and now I have my own consulting business. In Romania I worked at all the levels of the government, in all the major political institutions. My first job was at the Romanian Parliament as a parliamentary expert; later on, I was a personal advisor to the Romanian Prime-Minister for 4 years. I was a research expert for an institute studying Romanian communism and I also published two books covering the history of post-communist Romania — they are actually available at the Library of Congress. Before moving to DC, I was State Advisor to the President of Romania on strategy and communication. I was his strategist and speechwriter back in the 2014 electoral campaign. Our whole campaign — the whole concept around the campaign — was transforming what was possible in Romanian politics and for the people in Romania. And yes, by that time Romania had become a solid democracy, but my entire journey has been around the same commitment. That’s, in a nutshell, my story. Moving to the United States was very inspiring and in line with my passion for democracy. 

Why did you decide to move to DC? 

It’s a dual answer. I moved to DC as a diplomat first. Starting in 2017, I was a diplomat with the Embassy of Romania to the US for five years. Part of my role was political analysis and covering American politics, as well as advancing the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the US. After I finished my assignment at the embassy, I really had to look at what was the next step for my future, where I could make the biggest difference and where I would be able to contribute through my expertise to further promoting democracy and to empowering people. Washington, DC was the natural choice. 

That’s my professional reason, but there’s also a personal reason. I fell in love with the city and what it represents, I fell in love with the people here … I do feel this is a place of opportunities — anything you are committed to, you can find a group of people, a community, here to fulfill that goal. Anything you are passionate about, you’ll find it here. I love this place and I love the people here. I’ve always felt [at] home here.
 

What do you love most about living in DC? 

There are many things. I’ll start with the Lincoln Memorial, [which] is one of my favorite places. Every time I was challenged by something, I always went to walk there. It was a way to remind myself of what I stand for and why I am here. It’s not easy to move from one country to another, to be away from family, but every time I walk by the Potomac to the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall I get moved and inspired. I love this place, and this is where I can fulfill my dreams. 

I love that [DC] is clean and green. Sometimes I just walk on the streets in my neighborhood and people pass by me and say ‘hello’ and we exchange a couple of words. When I was watching the congressional hearings about DC — I was in person for one and then I watched the others online — [there was] this question coming up [about] what neighborhoods are not safe and you wouldn’t recommend going to. I’m thinking ‘what are they talking about?’ Did they ever spend time [walking] in the streets of the city to see its beauty, to meet its people and say hello to them? Did they ever go to the grocery store? Did they ever walk on Rock Creek or go to Navy Yard? For me, this is such a beautiful and inspiring place. 

This is also such a diverse and inclusive place, it makes you a better person. It makes you a better and more accepting and more generous human being. There is a place for everyone in DC — everybody is free to be the way they are, this was my experience from the moment I came to DC almost seven years ago. It doesn’t matter where you come from, DC makes you see that there is a bigger world out there. A world of different people, who can be together, work together, respect each other, and build a powerful community. 

What does achieving statehood mean for you? 

For me, DC Statehood is like the last missing piece — maybe not the last, but one of the missing pieces [in terms] of building a more perfect union. I shared with you at the beginning my story and why this matters to me, because in Romania, people died in 1989 to have voting rights and democracy. Romanian people always had the U.S. as a model, and they still do that, in terms of democracy, civic rights and human rights. I can say this helped Romania build up after communism — having the partnership of the U.S. 

I see DC Statehood not as a political or electoral issue, not even as a constitutional issue, but just [as] a fundamental, basic democracy issue. There are 700,000 citizens following their citizenship obligations — not just paying taxes, but in terms of their relationship to the state, to the government — but they do not have representation in Congress. They do not have a voice in the legislative body itself. Having full representation in Congress shouldn’t be seen as a political or a partisan subject, but it should be embraced by both sides. At least debating on it should be taken out of the ongoing partisan divide. 

What do you think needs to be done to get closer to achieving statehood? 

I think there is some momentum now, in regards to DC Statehood. I want to acknowledge here the individuals, the organizations, and all the groups that put their energy and efforts into

supporting Statehood for DC and justice for DC citizens. You have the League of Women Voters of DC, who [are] very committed to that; you have DC Vote; you have the DC Democrats — you have a whole range of organizations that are working to make a difference, to have their voices heard, and to have DC be a state. 

But what I see needed is to shift the approach. If you look at the way we talk about DC Statehood, it’s more something we hope to achieve in the future, but we don’t know when. There is always this ‘towardness’ and uncertainty. While there is some momentum for DC Statehood, there is no time by when to achieve it — there isn’t at least a prospective timeline. I am concerned that we would end up stuck into this logic of postponing and waiting for the right circumstances to align, and they won’t. 

My thinking was, what if we shifted from this [perspective] to declaring a bold, courageous objective? Standing in a future and relating to it as [if] it’s already achieved … I think we need to give DC Statehood a timeframe, inside of which to coordinate all the resources and efforts and energy. Of course, inside of that future, there are lots of milestones to be fulfilled, but we are carving out our own future, rather than waiting for something to happen or for better circumstances. This is my take. I would say 2026 [could] be the year when U.S. citizens living in DC have full representation in Congress. Looking backwards from that moment, we can map out what needs to happen and what are the steps. I believe this approach would shape all our actions more effectively and would give a better direction to the DC Statehood endeavor. The history of this country is made up of those moments when something was spoken into existence and created a new reality. I don’t see why we shouldn’t apply this for Washington, DC, for DC Statehood, to inspire everybody, and bring everybody into it. 

Is there anything else you would like to say? 

I really think DC Statehood is doable, it’s possible, it can be done. I think gathering stories and sharing real stories of different people will contribute to a bigger conversation about DC Statehood. Like I said, it’s not a political issue. Talking to people in DC can make this subject more personal and relatable, can take it out [from] the legality and constitutional [aspects] and put it into the human perspective. 

I also think in the end everything boils down to DC Statehood, including safety in the city, the court system, equal justice, rights — it all comes down to DC Statehood. Every local debate we have about DC should be about DC Statehood. The people here elect their representatives — their local Council— and if citizens don’t like the local policies, people will vote them out of office and choose somebody else. This idea that Congress can impose on the DC local Council how to manage the city just doesn’t work — it’s inconsistent with the very idea of self-governance. People will decide — if they don't like the local policies, they will choose somebody else. 

 

There’s one more aspect to it. I want to address the politics of DC and the idea that DC Statehood means two more Democrats in the Senate. DC Statehood means two senators representing the people of the District of Columbia. Any party who wants those seats in the Senate, should propose good candidates who can persuade voters and represent their interests and concerns. Rather than denying representation in Congress to the US citizens living in DC, just because they may vote for the opposing party, change something in your way of doing politics, embody values and propose policies that would appeal to voters! 

Last but not least, I want to say I am very grateful to live in DC. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story.