Delegates from Puerto Rico at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions showed support for their respective presidential nominees, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, despite disagreements with their parties’ official platforms on Puerto Rico’s status. The Democratic platform now endorses a bill that includes options for statehood, independence, and sovereignty in association with the U.S., excluding Puerto Rico’s current territorial status, which was supported in previous platforms. The Republican platform removed language supporting Puerto Rican statehood in their 2020 and 2016 platforms.
The issue of Puerto Rico’s status is crucial for Puerto Rican voters, who, while unable to vote in presidential elections on the island, can do so once in the mainland U.S. Both parties allow Puerto Ricans to participate in their primaries and send delegates to the conventions. The island’s political parties are divided between those supporting statehood, the current territorial status, and independence, contributing to the complexity of the issue.
During the conventions, delegates from the pro-statehood New Progressive Party and the party supporting the current status showed support for their presidential nominees even as the platforms did not align with their views on Puerto Rico’s status. Despite the erosion of support for the current status due to various crises on the island, both the New Progressive Party and the Popular Democratic Party continue to have significant support. The issue of Puerto Rico’s status remains contentious, with changes in how Puerto Ricans view their relationship with the U.S. prompting ongoing political debate and action among the island’s political parties.
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