SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The longstanding dominance of the two main political parties in Puerto Rico is increasingly challenged by a younger generation that expresses frustration over corruption, ongoing power failures, and public fund mismanagement.
For the first time in recent history, a candidate from a third party is emerging as a formidable contender in the governor’s race, trailing closely behind in polls as the elections approach this Tuesday. Political analysts are suggesting that this year’s election could be significant, fundamentally changing the political landscape of the island.
Juan Dalmau represents the Puerto Rico Independence Party and the recently formed Citizen Victory Movement, which was established in 2019. Recent polling indicates Dalmau’s support has surged to 29%, drawing nearly level with Jenniffer González, a prominent member of the New Progressive Party and Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, who currently holds 31%. Earlier polling from July showed a stark contrast where Dalmau was at only 24%, and González led with 43%. Jesús Manuel Ortiz from the Popular Democratic Party and Javier Jiménez from the conservative Project Dignity follow in the rankings.
The political dynamics in Puerto Rico have predominantly revolved around its status, with the two traditional parties splitting over 90% of the vote until recent times. However, a significant shift occurred when the U.S. Congress established a federal oversight board in 2016 due to Puerto Rico’s struggles with a staggering $70 billion public debt, leading to the territory’s historic municipal bankruptcy in 2017. The financial woes stemmed from decades of corruption and poor management while the Electric Power Authority grapples with restructuring its own over $9 billion in debt.
The board’s imposition, which coincided with Hurricane Maria’s catastrophic impact, faced backlash from Puerto Ricans, as it was criticized for its perceived overreach, especially as it followed the devastation of the island’s infrastructure. In the 2020 elections, Pierluisi’s narrow victory with only 33% of the vote highlighted increasing dissatisfaction, as both traditional parties failed to surpass the 40% mark.
Power outages remain a pervasive issue, and the government contracted Luma Energy and Genera PR to manage Puerto Rico’s electrical grid. However, widespread dissatisfaction with these arrangements has escalated, as both companies attribute the ongoing outages to a deteriorating infrastructure that had not been properly maintained. Schmidt points out that the challenges faced during this gubernatorial term have had widespread ramifications, affecting all socioeconomic classes on the island. He noted that many voters are viewing the upcoming elections as an opportunity for retribution.
If elected, Dalmau has pledged to methodically rid the territory of the companies managing its power supply within a six-month timeframe. González has proposed the appointment of an “energy czar” to oversee the energy sector, while Ortiz has also voiced intentions to terminate Luma’s contract. However, any changes to existing contracts will require approval from both the federal oversight board and Puerto Rico’s Energy Bureau.
Candidates are also urged to tackle urgent issues such as affordable housing, decreasing the cost of living, curbing violent crime, revitalizing the economy, and improving the deteriorating healthcare system, especially as a significant number of medical professionals continue to migrate to the mainland United States seeking better opportunities. Dalmau has called for the elimination of tax incentives for wealthy U.S. citizens residing on the island.
Despite the candidates’ spirited promises, there remains a climate of voter apathy influencing the election. Comparatively, voter turnout diminished from 1.9 million in the 2008 election to merely 1.3 million in 2020, despite nearly 99,000 new voters and an additional 87,000 reactivated voters registered for this election, numbers that experts feel don’t adequately reflect what had been anticipated.
Analysts indicate that older voters tend to favor González and her pro-statehood party, whereas younger voters under 45 are leaning towards Dalmau. This demographic divide suggests that if a higher proportion of younger voters mobilize while older participation declines, Dalmau could secure a victory.
Youth engagement has been notably catalyzed by various cultural influences, including notable public interventions from reggaetón artist Bad Bunny, who has engaged in critical public discourse against the major parties and has implied support for Dalmau. Concurrently, political dissent has manifested, with the creation of a “cemetery of corruption” in San Juan showcasing individuals from both key parties who have faced legal repercussions. Sporadic reports of electoral malpractice have added to the tension as the country approaches the elections.
Additionally, voters will encounter a referendum regarding Puerto Rico’s political status for the seventh time, offering three options: statehood, independence, and independence with free association. Regardless of the local decision, a formal change in status ultimately requires consent from the U.S. Congress. Critics of the non-binding referendum lament that past outcomes have failed to result in tangible changes, reinforcing a cycle of political demoralization.
The complexity of Puerto Rico’s status in relation to its leadership further complicates matters as the outcome of these elections could have broader implications on future political endeavors. Observers contend that many Puerto Ricans desire to maintain U.S. citizenship, adding layers to the ongoing discourse surrounding political options for the island.
