D.C. takes home rule fight to nearby battleground districts during midterms

The big picture: Through his "Defend DC" initiative, White is shuttling volunteers from D.C. to battleground congressional districts in neighboring states, including the Harrisburg area of Pennsylvania, where they canvassed on Saturday.

• A charter bus full of volunteers and six additional cars made the 2.5-hour drive.

• Their target: Rep. Scott Perry, who has "voted against D.C. every single time he's had the opportunity in Congress," White tells Axios. The Republican is in a "dead heat" with Democratic candidate Janelle Stelson in central Pennsylvania, per the Philly Inquirer.
• White wants electeds who are "beating up on D.C. to know that we're not going to sit here and take it."
• "We're going to punch back."

White also sent D.C. volunteers to central Virginia, where Republican John McGuire is running for a second term against Tom Perriello, a former one-term Virginia congressman. McGuire has voted in favor of bills like restricting D.C.'s ability to set its own taxes.

The big picture: White is likely to win next week's general election to succeed Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who's held the seat since 1991.

• A Democratic House majority could improve the freshman member's chances of building influence in the non-voting position.

By the numbers: White has raised just under $50,000 for a pro-statehood leadership PAC called DC51, his spokesperson Roger Limoges tells Axios.

What's ahead: White plans to return to Virginia for the final weekend of the campaign, coordinating with activist group Free DC.

• He says the effort will continue beyond the midterms: "When there are anti-D.C. votes, we are mobilizing. … There will now be consequences to voting against D.C."