My theory as to why Demsheviks want to make DC a state is to have the fedgov and WH surrounded by the enemy.
That's pretty close to my theory - that they wanted to be a state before the election so they can take control of the DC Guard - which has bee under authority of POTUS since 1802 when created by Jefferson. And for reasons you just stated.
A useless piece of legislation - unless they think they will win in Nov. in which case they would scrap the bill anyway if it was a dumbshevik President.