Puerto Rico’s political parties are strongly associated with the possible political status options for Puerto Rico: independence, statehood, or the territorial “commonwealth,” which is essentially the current territorial status with aspirational goals of enhanced Puerto Rico power that have never been achieved.
Puerto Rico’s Popular Democratic Party, also known as the PDP, the Populares, or the “commonwealth” party, is not connected with the national Democratic political party. A recent opinion piece in L.A. Progressive suggests that the PDP, having evolved from a pro-independence organization to a party supporting the current colonial relationship, may now move back toward its sovereigntist roots.
The history of the PDP
Luis Muñoz Marín, the first Puerto Rican governor, founded the PDP in 1938. The political party began as a dissident arm of the socialist movement, but gradually developed a new idea: a unique, non-territorial relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States called “commonwealth” status. Muñoz Marín and his government cherished the idea of an autonomous, self-governing island with permanent U.S. citizenship, the ability to make treaties with other countries, and freedom to pick and choose among federal laws. The U.S. federal government never agreed to this idea.
The PDP clung to the “commonwealth” fantasy, but proposed and passed a law forbidding independence advocacy. “There should be no doubt about our dedication to permanent union and our purpose of enriching the meaning of American citizenship,” Muñoz Marín said in a speech, “not only for Puerto Rico, but to all our fellow citizens of the United States, for their prestige in America and in the World.”
By 1959, the PDP also included statehood supporters. In 1997, the PDP leadership talked about free association. As the L.A. Progressive article explains, there has been a gradual evolution from separatism to acceptance of colonialism and now, possibly, back again to separatism.
The last PDP governor attempted to define “enhanced commonwealth” clearly in a 2013 Senate hearing, but could not do so. When “commonwealth” has been on the ballot for status votes, it has been defined in multiple different ways. In the 21st century, it has become undeniably clear that there is no such thing as commonwealth status, as the Supreme Court, the White House Task Force on Puerto Rico Status, and Congress have all reiterated that Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory and nothing more.
As the L.A. Progressive observed, “The PPD’s long-held argument that Puerto Rico enjoyed a unique, mutually beneficial relationship with the U.S. was revealed to be a myth.”
But the idea that the PDP used to favor independence and could return to that position is not plausible, either. Muñoz Marín said in a 1965 interview, “As you know, the Puerto Rican people are very loyal to the United States; they are loyal citizens of the United States. But we have a lunatic fringe of, perhaps, a thousand in two million and a half people–independentists.” He did not claim that all separatists were lunatics, but he clearly did not support independence for Puerto Rico.
In a recent poll, Puerto Rico voters were asked whether they would vote for statehood or independence if those were the only choices in a status referendum. Among those who identified themselves as members of the PDP, 61% chose statehood. They also do not support independence. Given an “enhanced commonwealth” option, the numbers would be different — and we have seen that some “commonwealth” supporters seem to believe that “free association” is another term for “enhanced commonwealth.”
The 2024 elections
For nearly a century two political parties have traded political power in Puerto Rico. Just as the Presidents of the United States have been Republicans or Democrats since Millard Fillmore, the last Whig president, left office, Puerto Rico’s governors have been from the “commonwealth” party (PDP) or the statehood party (PNP).
This year, the PDP gubernatorial candidate is running third in polls, behind both the PNP and the new Alliance party. The PDP candidate for Resident Commissioner is behind the PNP candidate and the second-place option of “Not sure.” The PNP candidate had a 43% showing in the recent Gaither International poll, followed by the Alliance candidate with 24%, the PDP with 14%, and Project Dignity at 9%.
The L.A.Progressive suggests that “a new political force [may] rise from its ashes,” and hints that the Alianza could be that new political force.
