2024 Puerto Rican Elections: The Youth’s Vote and Opinion

By María José García Quiñones

design by María José García

Ever since 1948, when Puerto Rico elected a governor for the first time,  the only candidates for the role have been from the Popular Democratic Party (Partido Popular Democratico [PPD]) and the New Progressive Party (Partido Nuevo Progresista [PNP]).  But eventually, there came new candidates from other parties, such as the Puerto Rican Independence Party (Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño [PIP]), Citizens' Victory Movement (Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana [MVC]), and Project Dignity (Proyecto Dignidad [PD]). This year, for the first time in the history of Puerto Rico, the dominating candidates are not the usual PPD and PNP, but PNP and PIP. Recently, in a poll conducted by “El Nuevo Dia” on October 10, 2024 the results are as follows: Jenniffer González 37%, Juan Dalmau 25%, Jesús Manuel Ortiz 22%, and finally, Javier Jiménez 9%. It's important to state that the 7% difference is inside the margin of error within the poll, but it still demonstrates how times have changed. This is a historic shift in the election process, specially impacted by the Gen-Z vote and media influence.

2024 election candidates

New Progressive Party - Jenniffer González: Jenniffer's political journey began in 2002 when she was elected to the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, then she became Speaker, and Minority Leader. Then, in 2016 she was elected as Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, receiving the highest number of votes of any elected official on the Island in both that year and the 2020 elections. Campaign wise her slogan is “with Jenifer, we all win”. Her actual platform includes initiatives which mainly aim to tackle the following issues: Public administration, commitments to civil society, contributions and finances, economic development, education, statehood, infrastructure and reconstruction, physical and mental health, security and justice, and federal agenda. To read more about her initiatives, access her website: https://pnppr.com/areas-de-enfoque/

The Alliance (Pact between the parties “Citizens' Victory Movement ” and the “Puerto Rican Independence Party”) - Juan Dalmau: Dalumau’s career started out in 2000 when he worked as a legislative assessor for the senator, Manuel

Rodríguez Orellana. Then in 2003, he held the positions of Electoral Commissioner for the PIP in the State Elections and the General Secretary for the party. He was later a candidate for Governor in the 2012 elections, but he lost the general elections. Then he was elected as Senator by Accumulation in 2016. He was once again elected as the PIP candidate for governor in the 2020 general elections; but he lost once again. This year his campaign wants to make a change for Puerto Rico. His focus is based on universal human rights, promotes well-being, sustainable growth, and environmental preservation. Furthermore, it aims to eradicate corruption and put into motion a serious and inclusive decolonization process. Read more about his campaign here: https://www.patrianuevapr.com/

Popular Democratic Party - Jesús Manuel Ortiz: Jesus Manuel began working as a journalist and reporter for the local radio station WKAQ 580 and went on to be a producer for multiple other radio shows. In 2015, he began his actual political career as the Press Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs, where he oversaw all public communication strategies for Secretaries Alejandro García Padilla and Victor Suárez. He continued working for Alejandro García Padilla in that same position up until the end of his time in office. Then in 2016, he was elected as the Representative of the Popular Democratic Party by Accumulation. Now, Jesus Manuel's campaign slogan is “Bread, Land and Liberty”. His platform has presented plans to solve issues such as: the elimination of the LUMA contract, education, health, safety, corruption, and economic development. Read more about his campaign here: https://jesusmanuelortiz.com/

Project Dignity - Javier Jiménez: Javier Jiménez started his career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and dedicated 21 years to accounting, working both in a CPA firm and at his own company. In 1993, he began his actual political career as President of the Municipal Legislature of San Sebastián and then from 2005 to 2008 he worked as co-president. Also in 2005, he became the Mayor of San Sebastián and he has held this position continuously for the past 20 years. From 2009 to 2012 he also worked as part of the Board of Directors of the Municipal Revenue Collection Center (CRIM), while being mayor of San Sebastian. With his slogan “Puerto Rico Power” he invites all Puerto Ricans to come together and demonstrate the power the people of the island have. His initiatives cover the issues of corruption, physical/mental health, education, security, economic development, family, culture of life and childhood, women's affairs, youth affairs, senior citizens' affairs, disability affairs, agriculture, and environment. To read more of his initiatives access his website: https://www.javierjimenez2024.com/propuestaspdg

The Survey

The following graphs are part of a survey that the Youth Viewpoint team created and sent to high schools in Puerto Rico. It's purpose is to see different statistics, like their age, their views, and opinions on this year's elections. Firstly, the participants were asked their age, and most of them were 15 years old. Here is the chart:

Next up, the participants were asked about their opinions and knowledge on Puerto Rican politics and how important they believe some topics are. While most of the participants acknowledged that voting and being informed is very important, not many are interested in them. Look at the graphs below:

Next, participants were asked how they find out about current events and political news in Puerto Rico, and most of the participants stated that they find out about politics through two main sources: family and social media. This can be very impactful on the youth since these sources can often be biased.

Then, participants were asked the most important question in the whole survey: hypothetically, who would they vote for in the 2024 elections. Juan Dalmau won the “election” with 54.3% of the votes, take a look:

But, it's important to know the reasoning behind the voters' decisions. Therefore, the participants were asked why they voted for each candidate. Most of them answered that they believed that whoever they chose is the best candidate. 

Lastly, depending on how they answered the last question, participants were asked one of the following questions: “Why did you vote because of the political party?”, “Why do you believe your choice is the best candidate?”, or for those who didn't vote, “Why wouldn't you vote?”. (Note: The answers quoted are not all the answers submitted, there's a bit of everything to show the diversity of the participants' opinions.)

“Why did you vote because of the political party?” 

“I believe in the independence of PR”, “I like the idea of PR being a part of the USA”, “Because my parents would vote for that political party”, “My grandmother is a PNP and she has always told me that I will vote PNP”.

“Why do you believe your choice is the best candidate?”

Juan Dalmau: “Juan Dalmau because he is the least worst”, “I am going to vote for Dalmau because I think he is the best candidate on the table and it is important to have another point of view outside of the two-party system that has plagued us for more than 60 years.”, “It is the most suitable and the one that would make the most change.”, “From what I have heard and seen, he has the best policies.”, “I voted for Dalmau because, in my opinion, he is really the most capable of assuming the role in a way that will be beneficial to everyone on the island.”, “Juan Dalmau, because I understand he is focused on resolving current issues, instead of giving so much attention to the status, which is clearly not going to change.”, “Puerto Rico needs a change, it is now that the PNPPD leaves and the people wake up after everything they have done. I support Juan Dalmau not only because I am an independentist, but because PR deserves and needs something better, hope, change, someone who can take us out of the decadence we are living in.” 

Jenifer Gonzales: “because she is a woman”, “All the candidates are really mediocre. Taking this into account, I think I identify more with the ideology and the government plan of the PNP and Jennifer Gonzalez than with any other government plan. I also took into account the candidates' track records and came to the conclusion that the candidate with the most experience is JGO, although I do not necessarily agree with everything she says. However, I think that of the candidates who would really be worth voting for (Jesus Manuel and Juan Dalmau) none of them really represent what I would like for Puerto Rico. (Economic growth and strengthening the permanent union with the United States)” 

“Why wouldn't you vote?”

 “I don't have the slightest idea about politics in PR.”, “Because I don't know who they are or their parties.”, “not enough knowledge of each party/candidate to vote appropriately”, “I genuinely don't like any politician and I think that no party favors the future of Puerto Rico.”, “I am not educated enough about the candidates and parties to be able to make a decision.”