March 18th, 1959. Arguably one of the most consequential pieces of legislation slid across Dwight D. Eisenhower’s desk; the President greeted the press with a large smile as he stamped the Hawaii Admission Act. Even despite the dark history and acquisition of the formerly independent country, the Act received 93% approval by voters on the islands. Perhaps more surprisingly, the Act had passed the House (323–89) and Senate (76–15), margins that are virtually impossible for any legislation of the sort 65 years later. The largest points of congressional dissent were accusations of communists running the islands, while a vocal minority of Native Hawaiians disapproved of their homeland becoming a state. Despite these loud objections, the margins speak for themselves.
Today, Hawaii today is a reliably blue state with a mid-sized population. Its admission into the Union has given its citizens much-needed federal funding and relief during times of natural disaster. Although very reasonable protests about America’s imperial history continue to this day, the practical ramifications of secession on top of all the resources it receives have made the question completely out of the mainstream. Despite paying even more in taxes than Hawaii, Puerto Rico has not had the same treatment. It is still a Commonwealth and an unincorporated territory of the United States. Puerto Ricans have no votes in Congress nor a say in the federal taxes they are charged. They don’t get to voice their opinion on climate policy despite their extremely dire future instead of its consequences. America can have its bases on the island and warships sailing its coast without a single Puerto Rican voice expressing their opinion on this reality. Puerto Ricans are relegated to an ex-officio representative in Congress who may not vote and are given a small desk in the legislative branch. It would be quite an insult if you asked me.
So why hasn’t Puerto Rico become a state? There have been six referendums, with the most recent three ending up in pro-statehood votes (with none of the six ever choosing outright independence). There is no argument about it being too small in either size or population. Everyone born in Puerto Rico is a U.S. citizen and is subject to the laws of the federal government. Morally, it’s a no-brainer. However, politically, it is an ongoing debate. Just like how Washington D.C. is not a state despite its 500,000 residents, the fear in Washington is that it would be a political gift to the Democrats, who have historically done better with minority voters. Being a relatively densely populated island, the fear is a new blue island that hands Democrats the Senate and the presidency for years to come. With DC, despite the objectionable un-American position on its sovereignty, the political reality of a blue lock is not arguable. However, Puerto Rico is nothing like DC in makeup, population, or history; it only shares a spot in the statehood conversation because of its status.
The biggest hurdle to Puerto Rican statehood has always been the internal politics in DC. With cynical gaming and morally bereft decisions peppering the halls of Congress, any perceived disadvantage for any legislation can kill it without a second thought. For years (and even to this day by most House Republicans), Hill Republicans have viewed Puerto Rico as a needless concession to the Democratic Party. Two new blue senators and potentially a handful of blue representatives is political suicide, in their view. However, the most recent data suggests that the notion is clueless at worst and outdated at best.
Puerto Rico’s voting record is one of a swing state rather than solid in either direction. In 2020, Jenniffer González-Colón, a Republican, won a multi-party race for Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico with 41.14% of the vote. On the same ballot, Democrat Pedro Pierluisi won the governorship by just under 20,000 votes. Going further, 2016 was also a close race, with a Democratic governor and Republican Resident Commissioner again. 2012 was even closer, with just a 12,000 vote margin between the Democratic and Republican candidates. The point is this: if granted statehood, Puerto Rico would immediately join the likes of Michigan and Arizona as one of the most competitive swing states in the country. Not only would this be new ground to conquer in the presidential race, but its large population of over 3.2 million people would put it right between Iowa and Nevada in the top 35 most populous states, having multiple house districts open for new battles every two years. There is no data to distort nor obfuscate that even resembles a dirty Democratic ploy to have marginally more political power. Anything contrary is an utter misnomer born out of ignorance and fear.
Furthermore, regarding voting history, Puerto Rico is much closer to Florida than any other state. Rather than viewing this as a risk, I would encourage Republicans to see this as an opportunity. Florida had been a swing state for years, but after Ron DeSantis’s domination in the 2022 gubernatorial race and Marco Rubio’s definitive senate performance, the inroads Republicans built in previous Democratic strongholds indicate that there is a diverse cultural appeal in anti-communist, pro-capitalist messaging. Perhaps Puerto Rico could be the same story with the right candidates and vision from Republicans. It could even be reliably red if Republicans officially welcomed the territory into our Union.
When we think of America, we might think of the ideals of freedom or the dueling sovereignties of states and the federal government. Maybe it’s the Bill of Rights and the liberty we hold dear as the last vestige of safety against an ever more intrusive government. But for me, when I think of America, the original slogan of “No Taxation Without Representation” is what we built ourselves upon. Politically and morally, the final answer to Puerto Rican statehood is clear: honor their referenda and give them the representation they pay for with their taxes on a daily basis. A clearer betrayal of American values cannot be imagined while this resource-siphoning limbo continues.
