A recent YouGov poll reveals that a significant majority of Americans are in favor of making Puerto Rico a U.S. state. Conducted on October 29, the survey included 7,200 participants and investigated their support for Puerto Rican statehood, contingent on a favorable vote from Puerto Rican citizens.
The results are promising for statehood advocates, showing that 59 percent of respondents support the idea, compared to 16 percent who oppose it, and 25 percent who are unsure.
Political party affiliation played a role in opinions on statehood: a solid 79 percent of Democrats support it, along with 56 percent of independents and only 41 percent of Republicans. Opposition figures are also telling, with only 6 percent of Democrats vs. 29 percent of Republicans opposing the measure.
Using demographic data, the poll indicates that support for statehood is fairly balanced across races, ages, and genders.
This poll emerges as Puerto Ricans prepare to cast votes on November 5 regarding their political future, with options including statehood, independence, or sovereignty in free association with the U.S.
The poll also coincides with a controversial comment made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Donald Trump rally, who referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”
Alejandro Granadillo/Associated Press
A similar YouGov poll in 2016 showed that 29 percent of respondents thought statehood was Puerto Rico’s best political status, with 25 percent favoring territorial status and 20 percent for independence.
In the latest survey, they also explored support for Puerto Rican independence. A majority, about 52 percent, would back Puerto Rico’s independence if the territory’s residents desired it, while only 13 percent opposed it, leaving 36 percent undecided.
Support for independence was found among 56 percent of Democrats, 53 percent of independents, and 46 percent of Republicans, with the latter showing the highest opposition rate at 17 percent.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Puerto Rico has around 3 million residents, while roughly 5.8 million Puerto Ricans live on the mainland U.S.
A Pew Research report highlighted last year that Puerto Ricans constitute the second-largest Hispanic group in the U.S.