In a surprising shift, the residents of Washington, D.C. appear to be warming up to the idea of public funding for a new NFL stadium, defying the national trend towards rejecting taxpayer money for such projects.

A recent Washington Post-Schar School poll, conducted between April 22 and May 4, revealed that 55% of respondents either 'strongly' or 'somewhat' support using D.C. funds to construct a new facility for the Commanders at the historic RFK Stadium site.

This comes as the city is grappling with a budget crunch, with Mayor Muriel Bowser delaying the submission of the 2026 budget by over a month. Interestingly, past polls have shown far lower support for public funding, with only 47% backing it in 2024 and a mere 30% in 2022.

While the poll certainly seems to lean in favor of the stadium funding, the timing raises questions. It coincides with a public relations push surrounding a newly unveiled deal between the Commanders and the city, aimed at rallying support from both lawmakers and the public.

Critics suggest that instead of relying on the opinions of just 651 adults, a more direct approach would be to put the matter to a public vote. There is a movement underway to gather signatures for such a ballot. After all, if public sentiment is truly significant, what better way to measure it than through an official vote?

Opponents of the funding argue that the mayor's reluctance to hold a public vote suggests she might not be confident the measure would pass. If there's substantial support, allowing the electorate to weigh in would seem like the logical step.

In the end, while the poll indicates a majority support, many believe the decision should be left to a wider audience, allowing for a genuine reflection of public opinion in D.C.