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Ivan Sanchez's avatar

Dalmau may win but I wonder about his strength outside of the metro/Caguas. Even in the Metro, Dalmau’s main strength is people under 35 and that’s not a huge voting block in PR. We are also voting on another statehood ballot measure which I will be voting for independence.

At least for me, we gave the US the chance to make it right, 100 years, and they put la Junta in charge. We are suffering, struggling, and at least for my family, none of us believe the US will grant us statehood.

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the lurking ecologist's avatar

I spent most of my time in the west part if the island, and otherwise with Utuadeños, so I think Dalmau has strength outside of metro area, though it is true that I didn't hang out much with folks > 40 anywhere.

After experiencing the utter incompetence of acuaductos, prepa, dtop, and the dept of education in PR for 20 years, I thought the junta was a good idea...for about week. By then it was clear that the junta was prioritizing the needs of triple exempt bond holders over the needs of the people.

There are times though that I think 100 or so IRS agents busting tax cheats would be the best thing ever for the PR budget. When my wife and I were there, we made, together, a little over $100k and supposedly were in the top 5% wealthiest families on the island with that income. Since we had a govt paycheck, we couldn't cheat with cash income.

All the PNP statehood referenda are performative though without an act of Congress to recognize results. Pedro Rosello almost got that through. Can't remember if it was Don Young in the house or Hayley Barbour in the Senate that torpedoed it. I think it was Barbour, because MS would have lost its status as poorest state.

Ivan, what's your prediction for the PR Gov election? And Resident Commissioner?

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Ivan Sanchez's avatar

My heart hopes for Dalmau but my gut says J-Go wins but with a very small plurality. You lived here so you know that the two major parties don’t exactly track with mainland parties. J-Go herself isn’t as conservative as a mainland Republican.

PR itself is very homogenous. I’m gay and out and nobody cares as long as my husband and I attend mass every Sunday. Even when they talk about the anti-LGBT stuff here, it’s heavily focused on the T, lesbian and gay men don’t get nearly as much crap even in the smaller towns. So while Project Dignity exists, it struggles to capture Puerto Rican votes. We have evangelicals here, but the concept itself just isn’t popular like it is in the States.

I actually think it’s possible the Resident Commissioner ends up being from the PPD. Pablo Hernández Rivera is running and he’s the grandson of Rafael Hernández Colón, the governor off and on from 77-93.

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