Puerto Rico Governor petitions Congress for statehood

Governor Jenniffer González Colón has signed Joint Resolution 66-2026, formally petitioning the President and the United States Congress to admit Puerto Rico as the 51st state of the Union. The resolution, which was approved by the Senate of Puerto Rico on August 31, 2026, requests that Congress exercise its authority under Article IV of the U.S. Constitution to admit the territory on equal footing with existing states.

The governor stated that the petition represents the will of the people, noting that Puerto Ricans have expressed a preference for statehood in multiple plebiscites held over the last decade, including votes in 2012, 2017, 2020, and 2024. The resolution emphasizes that while Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917, they currently reside under a territorial status subject to the plenary authority of Congress.

The official request faces political hurdles, including long-standing opposition from President Donald Trump, who has previously characterized the prospect of statehood as ‘a disaster’ and expressed concerns regarding the potential shift in congressional power.