If you scrolled through TikTok or flipped on the news during the final stretch of the 2024 election, you probably saw the firestorm. A comedian at a Madison Square Garden rally called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage," and suddenly, everyone was an expert on the "Boricua vote." But when the dust settled, the big question remained: did Puerto Rico vote for Trump?
Honestly, the answer is a bit of a "yes and no" situation. It’s complicated because Puerto Rico’s relationship with the U.S. mainland is, well, weird.
Technically, residents on the island cannot vote in the general election for the President of the United States. They have no electoral votes. Yet, for the first time in history, the 2024 ballot in Puerto Rico actually included a symbolic "straw poll" for the presidency. So, while their votes didn't help Donald Trump get to 270, we finally have hard data on who the island would have picked.
The Island Results: A Symbolic Choice
Despite the "garbage" joke controversy that dominated headlines for a week, the results on the island were pretty clear. In the non-binding presidential straw poll, Kamala Harris won decisively over Donald Trump.
The numbers tell a specific story. Harris pulled in roughly 724,947 votes (about 63.6%), while Donald Trump received 263,270 votes (23.1%). It wasn't particularly close. Interestingly, a huge chunk of people—over 123,000—left the presidential line blank or spoiled their ballots.
You’ve got to remember that for many people in San Juan or Ponce, the U.S. presidency feels like a distant thing that affects them deeply but which they can't control. The "garbage" comment definitely stung. Local leaders like Jenniffer González-Colón, who actually supports Trump and won the Governor's race, had to distance herself from that rhetoric immediately.
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Why the Gap?
Why did Trump only get 23%? Part of it is historical. The Democratic Party has long been seen as more sympathetic to the island's economic needs, even if that’s a subject of heated debate at every lechonera on a Sunday. But also, the 2024 election on the island was mostly about local issues: the failing power grid (LUMA Energy is a name everyone hates there), government corruption, and the eternal question of statehood.
The Stateside Shift: A Different Story
Here is where things get interesting. While the island itself "voted" for Harris in that symbolic poll, Puerto Ricans living in the 50 states behaved very differently.
There are about 6 million Puerto Ricans on the mainland. They can vote. And they did. In places like Pennsylvania and Florida, we saw a massive shift toward Donald Trump that left many analysts scratching their heads.
- In Osceola County, Florida: This is one of the most concentrated Puerto Rican hubs in the world outside the island. Trump actually won this county. Think about that. Biden won it by 14 points in 2020.
- Pennsylvania: In cities like Reading and Allentown, the "Boricua" vote didn't flee Trump as expected. In fact, many Puerto Rican men moved toward the Republican column in record numbers.
Why? Honestly, it came down to the kitchen table. When you talk to voters in North Philadelphia or Central Florida, they weren't talking about the "garbage" joke as much as they were talking about the price of eggs and rent. They saw Trump as a "strongman" who could fix the economy.
The Statehood Question: The Real Winner
If you want to know what Puerto Ricans actually care about, look at the referendum. Alongside the presidential straw poll, there was a vote on the island's status.
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Statehood won. Again.
About 57% of voters chose statehood over independence or "free association." This is the seventh time they've voted on this, and the message is getting louder. The New Progressive Party (PNP), which is the pro-statehood party, swept the big seats. Jenniffer González-Colón became the Governor-elect. She is a Republican. She supports Trump.
It’s a weird paradox: the island "voted" for Harris for President, but elected a Trump-aligned, pro-statehood Governor.
Breaking Down the Local Power
- Governor: Jenniffer González (PNP) won with 39-41% of the vote in a multi-candidate field.
- Resident Commissioner: This is the non-voting rep in D.C. Pablo Hernández Rivera, a Democrat (PPD), actually won this seat, showing how much the island likes to split its ticket.
- The "Alianza": For the first time, a pro-independence/reformist alliance (PIP and MVC) took second place, pushing the traditional Popular Democratic Party to third. This is a political earthquake in Puerto Rico.
Did the "Garbage" Joke Matter?
People ask this constantly. "Did Puerto Rico vote for Trump less because of the joke?"
In the straw poll on the island, it probably didn't help. It gave the "Alianza" and the pro-independence groups a lot of ammunition to say, "See? They don't respect us." But for the average voter, it seemed like a secondary concern compared to the fact that the lights go out three times a week.
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One activist in Florida told WLRN that some mainland Puerto Ricans actually found the island's own government more "garbage" than the joke itself. They were frustrated with the status quo.
What This Means for the Future
The 2024 results proved that Puerto Ricans are not a "blue monolith."
If you are looking for a simple answer to "did Puerto Rico vote for Trump," you have to look at where the voter was standing. If they were in San Juan, they picked Harris. If they were in Kissimmee, Florida, there’s a nearly 50/50 chance they picked Trump.
The real takeaway is that the island is tired of being a territory. With statehood winning the referendum yet again and a pro-Trump Governor heading to La Fortaleza, the pressure on the 47th President to address Puerto Rico's status is going to be massive. Trump has had a rocky relationship with the island (remember the paper towels?), but his allies now run the show there.
Actionable Insights for Following the Status Debate
If you're following this story to see what happens next with the island's status under the second Trump administration, keep an eye on these specific movements:
- The Certification of the Referendum: Watch how the U.S. Congress reacts to the 57% statehood win. Historically, D.C. ignores these, but a Republican Governor-elect might have more leverage with a Republican-controlled Congress.
- LUMA Energy's Contract: The new Governor has hinted at big changes or cancellations for the private power company. This will be the first major test of her administration.
- The 2026 Midterms: Watch if the shift toward Trump among stateside Puerto Ricans holds. If it does, the Democratic "firewall" in states like Pennsylvania is in serious trouble.
The island didn't technically give Trump any electoral votes, but the Puerto Rican people—both on the island and off—shaped the 2024 election in a way we've never seen before.