Abraham Lincoln famously explained that people are generally as happy as they allow themselves to be.

Building a new football stadium in Washington might require a large group of politicians to be their happiest, but unfortunately for Redskins fans, that’s not often what politicians do.

Three straight seasons missing the playoffs, along with the lack of a franchise quarterback, has the team’s supporters questioning the future. The scene at FedEx Field in 2018 supports that assertion, as most games either didn’t have enough ‘Skins fans or had too many of the other team’s fans.

Short of significant playoff victories, moving the team’s home games back to RFK Stadium in D.C. might be the biggest win the franchise can register.

And maybe, just maybe, it’s going to happen.

“RFK is hugely important to D.C.,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said on the NBC Sports Washington's Racing Presidents podcast.

Washington’s mayor went on to explain that with DC United playing in a new stadium at Audi Field, the RFK site sits vacant. Bowser and Redskins owner Dan Snyder both talked about their desire to bring the Burgundy and Gold back to East Capitol Street last fall, and listening to the mayor, it’s possible the dream is becoming closer to reality.

“No one is playing at RFK. We literally have a national park that is asphalt and we know something has to happen about that,” Bowser said. “Eleanor Holmes Norton presented a bill in Congress that would allow us to buy RFK and that is our intention. We’re hoping it gets through Congress really quickly. And we’re going to evaluate it and buy it for the District’s use.”

The whims of Congress swing more than a palm tree in Miami.

Still, there does seem to be real momentum for a new team at RFK, and that could be the Redskins.

Governor Larry Hogan said the state of Maryland is out, for now, of the Redskins stadium chase.

Since Virginia landed Amazon HQ2, the Commonwealth’s pursuit of the new Redskins stadium has changed as well.

Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAullife openly spoke of building a new stadium for the 'Skins. Current Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has always seemed lukewarm about a new stadium and is in the middle of significant political turmoil.

Add it all up and D.C. looks like the best possible landing spot for the Redskins new stadium.

The current lease at FedEx Field in Landover expires in 2027. If permits start getting stamped and shovels start moving dirt soon, the team could be in a new stadium in less than a decade.

Redskins fans hope that means a return to East Capitol Street.

In DC, like many things, it could all come down to politics.

It’s not new, but maybe, it’s a reason for hope.

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