In political discussions, the year 2024 might be prominently noted for the election that揭示了 the misconception of a singular Puerto Rican electorate aligned with the Democratic party.
The acknowledgment of Puerto Rican backing for Republicans represents a crucial change in the discourse surrounding Puerto Rico’s status. Historically, a common argument against Puerto Rican statehood from Republicans has been that the new state would lean heavily Democratic. Recent election outcomes challenge this assertion.
The reality is that political divisions cannot be easily defined in the context of the Puerto Rico status debate. There are unmistakably advocates for statehood on both sides of the political spectrum, comprising both Republicans and Democrats. Similarly, there are detractors of statehood located in both political sets. Some Democrats continue to cling to the discredited notion of “enhanced commonwealth” or may be gravitating toward independence rather than statehood, albeit within a controversial framework suggesting an expansion of U.S. citizenship in a sovereign nation in an unprecedented manner. On the flip side, some Republicans may persist in arguing that granting statehood to Puerto Rico would benefit Democrats and dismiss any potential for it, even though viewing it through this political lens may be misguided.
Nevertheless, political assertions continue unabated. One commentator has described pro-statehood initiatives as “a tactic for securing Democratic congressional seats.” Historical voting patterns of Puerto Ricans in Florida, as well as the emerging trends for the 2024 elections, raise doubts about the assumption that Puerto Ricans form a cohesive Democratic voting bloc. A thorough review of the statehood topic reveals that strategists both for and against statehood cannot be neatly assigned to either political faction.
Republican Advocacy for Puerto Rican Statehood: Historical and Current Perspectives
To begin with, it has never been accurate to assert that only Democrats support Puerto Rico statehood. Republicans have also played a role, both on the mainland and the island:
- Puerto Rico Chooses Republican Leadership. To illustrate, one can look at Governor-elect and current Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R), who has been serving Puerto Rico since 2017. Gonzalez-Colon continues the legacy of Republican Luis Fortuno, who also served as Governor (2009-2013) and Resident Commissioner (2005-2009) of Puerto Rico.
- The Republican Party of Puerto Rico Advocates for Statehood. Republican leaders in Puerto Rico have consistently called for statehood over the years. In 2012, the Republican Party of Puerto Rico released a report titled “The Case for Statehood,” laying out its arguments in favor of such a status. The current messaging on the Republican Party of Puerto Rico’s website echoes this sentiment, asserting that the Party upholds “the highest ideological aspiration: statehood.”
- The National Republican Party Supports Puerto Rico Statehood. Established in 1903, the Republican Party of Puerto Rico aligned itself with the national Republican Party, which has articulated support for Puerto Rico statehood in its platforms for over a century. Previous Republican Presidents, including George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and Gerald Ford, were strong proponents of statehood for Puerto Rico, and the 2024 Republican platform advocates for “greater participation” of all U.S. territories “in all aspects of the political process.”
- Individual Republican Leaders Advocate for Puerto Rico Statehood. In 2021, when Sen. Heinrich (D-NM) put forth legislation regarding Puerto Rico’s status, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) reminded his colleagues that “American citizens in Puerto Rico have democratically expressed a desire for statehood,” and encouraged them to “keep an open mind and understand more about statehood before firmly opposing it.” He reaffirmed his commitment to “do [his] part to eventually gain the 60 votes required in the Senate for admission.” His colleague, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), has similarly stated that Puerto Rico “will one day become a state.” The two Florida Senators are joined in the House of Representatives by fourteen Republican Members of Congress who support the Puerto Rico Status Act, offering a statehood option in a Puerto Rican plebiscite. The co-sponsors represent various states and U.S. territories:
- Florida – Rep. Maria Salazar (R), Rep. Bill Posey (R), and Rep. Cory Mills (R)
- New York – Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R), Rep. Michael Lawler (R), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis(R), and Rep. Claudia Tenney (R)
- Pennsylvania – Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R)
- U.S. Territories – Del. Amata Radewagen (R-AS), and Del. James Moylan (R-GU)
- Nebraska – Rep. Don Bacon (R)
- Oregon – Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R)
- Michigan – Rep. Bill Huizenga (R)
- West Virginia – Rep. Alex Mooney (R)
- Florida Puerto Ricans Back Both Statehood and the Republican Party. Florida now hosts more Puerto Ricans than any other state, surpassing New York. In 2021, the James Madison Institute, a conservative think tank in Florida, noted that “few mainland politicians truly grasp or analyze the complexities surrounding Puerto Rican statehood. However, if they aim to win Florida — specifically the critical region of Central Florida, where many Puerto Ricans reside — they must start to engage with these issues.” This insight proved accurate during the 2022 midterm elections when Ron DeSantis and Marco Rubio both achieved significant wins, with DeSantis as Florida’s Governor and Rubio retaining his Senate seat, buoyed by Puerto Rican voters in Florida. As similar trends emerged in 2024, early polls indicated Puerto Rican voters leaning toward Democratic candidates in 2022, yet the election night results told a different story. The entire Bush political legacy, including former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, along with former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, understands this political dynamic and has embraced it.
Democratic Hesitation to Fully Embrace Puerto Rico Statehood
Just as the support of Puerto Ricans for Republicans is often overlooked, the historical backing of Democrats for Puerto Rico statehood is frequently exaggerated. The truth is that partisan Democrats have commonly inclined towards the idea of an “enhanced” or “developed” “commonwealth,” and the allure of this concept, though unclear, pulls party leaders away from a full endorsement of statehood.
- The Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is divided. While the Republican Party of Puerto Rico is united in its support for statehood, a fraction of Democrats in Puerto Rico firmly advocates for it, such as former Resident Commissioner and Governor Pedro Pierluisi. Other Democrats, like incoming Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera, have leaned more towards the developed “commonwealth” stance, seeking a blend of statehood benefits with additional rights of an independent nation.
- Some Democratic Leaders of Puerto Rican Heritage Strongly Reject Statehood. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), the first Puerto Rican woman in Congress and a prominent advocate for Puerto Rico’s status, staunchly opposes statehood, historically favoring “commonwealth” while gradually aligning herself with the independence movement. Luis Gutierrez, a former Democratic congressman, proposed an independence bill for Puerto Rico in 2017. The former congressman was raised in Chicago.
- Democratic Presidents Often Show Caution in Backing Statehood. Reflecting the competing pressures within the Democratic Party regarding statehood versus enhanced or developed “commonwealth,” the Democratic Party tends to endorse “Puerto Rico self determination” without committing to a specific position, and Democratic Presidents generally follow this trend. In the last report from the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status, issued in 2011, the Obama administration indicated a Constitutional issue with “commonwealth” but refrained from explicitly endorsing statehood, likely to avoid alienating “commonwealth” proponents.
The Conclusion
While statehood is a matter that spans political divides, there have always been Democrats who oppose it, just as there have been Republicans against it. The situation continues to evolve. In light of this fluidity, it may be beneficial to recall the admission of Hawaii and Alaska into the U.S., which occurred in tandem, with Hawaii expected to lean Republican and Alaska prophesied to be Democratic. Neither prediction materialized. Ultimately, support may be granted to whichever political party champions the most vigorously for the U.S. territory’s complete integration as an equal part of the nation.
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