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by ranrotx 3244 days ago
One of the things preventing Puerto Rico from becoming a state is the balance of power in the US Congress. The thinking is that a majority of the Puerto Ricans will align themselves with the Democratic Party. That would result in 2 new Democrat Senators which would upset the balance and possibly swing the senate in favor of the Democrats.

There have been similar concerns going back to the 1800s as well with the United States' western expansion and creation of new western states.
2 comments
JBReefer 3244 days ago
You're thinking of DC. Puerto Ricans are actually pretty conservative, there's a chance that DC will finally become a state now that PR has voted to join.

https://rightedition.com/2016/03/11/puerto-rico-rejects-gay-...

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pavlov 3244 days ago
Interesting. Puerto Rico's statehood is basically an edge case of the demographic quicksand that underlies the Republican Party's current domination. Trumpism certainly isn't doing the Party any long-term favors in that sense.
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