How Democrats and Republicans have shifted their positions on Puerto Rico’s status

Puerto Rican delegates in both the Democratic and Republican conventions supported their respective presidential candidates, despite changes in policy platforms and campaign stances on the status of Puerto Rico. 

The Democratic Party’s platform has a section on Puerto Rico, stating, “Democrats recognize that the people of Puerto Rico have earned and deserve to resolve the political status questions. For this reason, Democrats support the enactment of the Puerto Rico Status Act, HR 2757, and promote full civic and political representation for Puerto Ricans.” 

The party supports the Puerto Rico Status Act which schedules a binding plebiscite offering voters the choice of independence, free association, or statehood. Unlike the 2016 and 2020 platforms, in which the Democrats included Puerto Rico’s current territorial status, the support for the plebiscite reflects increased Democratic support for Puerto Rican self-determination.

The Republican Party also changed its stance on Puerto Rico in the wording of its party platform. In the platform, the only mention of Puerto Rico is their protection, saying, “The territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico are of vital importance to our National Security, and we welcome their greater participation in all aspects of the political process.” Puerto Rican statehood was a key platform component in 2016 and 2020.

While Puerto Ricans living in the territory cannot vote in the general election, the platform policy changes could determine how Puerto Ricans who live in the mainland states vote.

On the islands, some citizens are beginning to turn away from their current situation as a territory, following events over the years such as “a botched federal response to Hurricane Maria, a decade-long financial crisis and the federally imposed oversight board overseeing the largest public debt restructuring in U.S. history—resulting in tough austerity measures that prompted layoffs of public workers and cuts to the health care and education budgets.”

Nevertheless, the Popular Democratic Party, New Progressive Party, and Puerto Rican Independence Party continue to advocate for the current status, statehood, and independence options, respectively in Puerto Rico.