Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Puerto Rico Voted To Be A State Yesterday
By
Garth Johnston
Published Nov 7, 2012
Modified Nov 7, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Nov 7, 2012
Modified Nov 7, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Did you look at the final electoral map this morning and think about how little it has changed in four years? Well, it could be very different soon enough. In a non-binding referendum a majority of Puerto Ricans voted yesterday to become the 51st state in the union. And President Obama has previously expressed support for the idea, so...
The two-part referendum yesterday asked whether island residents wanted to change the status quo of their 114-year relationship with the United States. The numbers are still being counted, but with 96 percent of precincts reporting (see the results here) nearly 54 percent, or 922,374 people, wanted to change the way things work.
After that question the voters were asked to choose between the options of statehood, sovereign free association and independence. Currently61 percent support statehood, 33 percent support free association and just 5 percent support independence.
Of course, statehood is a not a sure thing. Previously Obama has expressed support for the referendum and pledged to respect the will of the people in the event of "a clear decision." But it is not clear if Congress "will debate the referendum results or if Obama will consider the results to be a clear enough majority." Some on the right have previously been very vocal about not letting Puerto Rico into the union while so much of the population speaks Spanish. So, we'll see.
Still, this could be exciting! Think of how good this will be for the flag-making industry! And the next thing you know people are going to be pushing for D.C. to have voting rights...
Tagged
51st state
election 2012
puerto rico
referendum
statehood
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot by ICE in NYC still has bullet lodged in neck, attorneys say
Oscar Belgal, a 28-year-old immigrant from the Dominican Republic, was in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset Park on Monday.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Oct 12, 2026 at 11:37 a.m. ET
NY measles spread prompts 'disaster' emergency. It didn't have to be this way, health commissioner says.
The state health commissioner says the disease outbreak is wholly preventable.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
News
NY measles spread prompts 'disaster' emergency. It didn't have to be this way, health commissioner says.
The state health commissioner says the disease outbreak is wholly preventable.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
NYC wants to move deliveries onto the waterways. It's starting with a 55-year-old boat.
By
Liam Quigley
Inside the luxury Greenpoint high-rise powered by a rumbling generator for over a month
By
David Brand
Mayor Mamdani orders review of NYPD use of force policies
By
Michael Sol Warren
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .