Shaking It Up

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Puerto Ricans headed to the polls Tuesday in a historic gubernatorial election that could break decades of political tradition, with a race that pits a pro-statehood party looking to win an unprecedented third consecutive term against a third-party candidate who could become the first leader of the island outside of its two major parties, the Associated Press reported.

Candidates include Jenniffer González, representing the pro-statehood New Progressive Party (NPP), and Juan Dalmau of the Puerto Rican Independence Party and part of the “Alianza” coalition with the Citizen Victory Movement.

The election marks a turning point after years of economic challenges and voter disillusionment, as frustration grows with the political establishment amid an ongoing debt crisis, natural disasters, and a US-appointed oversight board that has imposed austerity measures on the island, the newswire wrote.

As a result, Dalmau’s coalition has focused on government transparency over Puerto Rico’s political status, appealing to young voters who have grown up during these crises and high unemployment. Running against González and Dalmau are Jesús Manuel Ortiz of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) and Javier Jiménez from the conservative Project Dignity party.

Alianza’s rise is driven by calls for change following the 2016 debt crisis that left Puerto Rico with $72 billion in public debt and saw the 2016 PROMESA law place the economy under US federal oversight in order to restructure its debts.

This economic strain – coupled with the devastation from Hurricane Maria in 2017 and a series of earthquakes in 2020 – has contributed to record-low voter turnout, the tally already having fallen to 55 percent in the 2016 gubernatorial vote, NBC News noted.

With nearly two million eligible voters and heightened scrutiny on the election process amid fraud allegations, analysts believe that increased turnout among young voters could tip the scales in favor of a non-traditional candidate.

Voters are also casting ballots in a non-binding referendum on Puerto Rico’s political status, choosing among statehood, independence, or independence with free association.

However, the referendum’s result is symbolic and – regardless of the outcome – any status change will require US Congressional approval.