Delegates from Puerto Rico at the Democratic and Republican national conventions supported their respective presidential nominees, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, despite changes in their parties’ official platforms regarding Puerto Rico. The Democratic platform now includes support for a bipartisan bill that seeks to change Puerto Rico’s territorial status through a federally binding vote, while the Republican platform removed language supporting Puerto Rican statehood. Both parties previously supported Puerto Ricans’ right to determine their status.
Puerto Ricans living on the island are U.S. citizens who cannot vote for president, but once they move to the mainland U.S., they can participate in federal elections. Puerto Ricans are the second-largest group of Latino eligible voters in the country. The island’s status issue is divisive, with most supporting either statehood or the current territorial status, while a smaller percentage advocate for independence.
Delegates at both conventions, including those from pro-statehood and current status supporting parties, supported their respective nominees. Despite differences on the status issue, Puerto Rican delegates backed Harris and Trump. Support for the current territorial status in Puerto Rico is decreasing, as many see it as the cause of various crises, such as Hurricane Maria, financial problems, and austerity measures imposed by a federal oversight board.
Both the New Progressive Party and the Popular Democratic Party have significant support on the island, despite differing views on Puerto Rico’s status. The political landscape in Puerto Rico remains complex, with local parties organizing around the status issue. Puerto Rican voters in the mainland play a significant role in U.S. elections, despite not being able to vote for president while on the island.
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