Leading up to the Civil War, the U.S. government was actively incorporating new states into the Union. According to the Missouri Compromise, states permitting slavery had to join alongside states that prohibited it, thereby maintaining a balance. While this approach did not avert the Civil War, it established a practice of admitting states in pairs. Even into the 20th century, after slavery was abolished nationwide, states continued to join in pairs, with each Democratic state aligning with a Republican counterpart. Today, there are discussions suggesting that Puerto Rico may require a Republican partner state to gain admission to the Union.
Must it be a Republican partner state?
The key inquiry here, assuming the tradition of pairing states for admission continues, is whether Puerto Rico genuinely requires a Republican counterpart. Puerto Rico has seen both Republican and Democratic governors and resident commissioners elected. Presently, the Resident Commissioner is a Republican while the Governor is a Democrat. The Democratic and Republican Parties are not formally registered in Puerto Rico. Generally, Puerto Ricans tend to be socially conservative voters, and there is scant evidence to suggest they would align as a blue state.
Puerto Rico might indeed necessitate a Democratic state to maintain the balance. If that were the case, Washington D.C. could serve as a viable option.
Are there any potential Republican states?
<pHistorically, multiple territories have sought statehood. Arkansas joined with Michigan, primarily due to their tactical advantage over Florida, which was initially forecasted to be Michigan’s partner. To date, only D.C. has been proposed as a partner state for Puerto Rico. Are there other alternatives?
Jefferson, a proposed state in the Pacific Northwest, stands as a possible candidate. It would encompass the rural regions of Northern California and Southern Oregon. The few advocates for its establishment tend to be conservative Republicans who feel their interests are underrepresented in state legislatures. The counties proposed for Jefferson typically lean Republican, so recognizing Jefferson as a state may likely yield two Republican senators to counterbalance the Democratic senators anticipated from Puerto Rico.
Lincoln, another Northwestern state introduced in 1907, is another potential candidate. It has been suggested multiple times throughout the years, most recently in 2005. Lincoln would consist of the Idaho panhandle, a region dominated by Republicans, along with Eastern Washington, another Republican bastion.
While neither of these states currently exists, both have their share of supporters.
In Canada, Alberta has a small initiative underway advocating for its secession from Canada to become a U.S. state. The population there is significantly more conservative than many Canadians, making it likely to emerge as a red state if it were to join the Union.
Lastly, the remaining U.S. territories (potentially excluding American Samoa) could unite to meet the demographic requirements for statehood. Like Puerto Rico, these territories are not definitively Republican or Democratic, but they may face fewer legal challenges than other proposed states.
Facing Reality
Currently, no other territories or potential states are seeking admission into the United States—aside from Puerto Rico. Washington D.C. is the only area actively pursuing statehood and would likely be classified as a blue state.
Interestingly, there is no legislation mandating that states must be admitted in pairs or that a Republican state is necessary to balance a Democratic one. Additionally, there is no definitive proof that Puerto Rico would function as a blue state. Delegates from Puerto Rico at both national party conventions have advocated for the territory’s statehood.
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