In 2024 Puerto Rico held a referendum on precisely this question, and the majority (58%) chose statehood while only 11% chose independence. It’s not a perfect measure (retaining the current status quo wasn’t an option, only 63% of voters turned out) but it shows a pretty clear preference IMO.
What’s nuts to me is that neither major American party has gone for it. The House passed a bill in 2022 which would have admitted PR as a state but it went nowhere - but damn that’s two whole Senate seats that could go to either party if they came out as strongly pro-PR. Same thing for DC.
In 2024 Puerto Rico held a referendum on precisely this question, and the majority (58%) chose statehood while only 11% chose independence. It’s not a perfect measure (retaining the current status quo wasn’t an option, only 63% of voters turned out) but it shows a pretty clear preference IMO.
What’s nuts to me is that neither major American party has gone for it. The House passed a bill in 2022 which would have admitted PR as a state but it went nowhere - but damn that’s two whole Senate seats that could go to either party if they came out as strongly pro-PR. Same thing for DC.