Puerto Rico is set to hold a Democratic presidential primary on Sunday, giving registered voters on the island a chance to officially participate in the race for the White House. While residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote in the general election, they can take part in the presidential primaries and send delegates to the Democratic and Republican national conventions. President Joe Biden has already secured enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination and faces minimal opposition in the primary. The event was originally scheduled for March 17 but was moved and scaled back to reduce costs once Biden had locked up the nomination.
Despite not being able to vote for president in November, voters in Puerto Rico could still influence Electoral College calculations. Both the Biden and Trump campaigns had outreach efforts in Puerto Rico during the 2020 general election in hopes of swaying voters on the U.S. mainland. Vice President Kamala Harris visited Puerto Rico last month to highlight the Biden administration’s record on disaster relief and attend a fundraiser. A 2023 Pew Research Center analysis of Census data shows that about 5.8 million Puerto Ricans live in the 50 states and D.C., with significant populations in Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
In past elections, Puerto Rico has played a role in nominating the Democratic presidential candidate. Biden won the Puerto Rico primary in 2020, receiving 62% of the vote, while Trump secured the Republican delegates in a caucus-style vote. The Puerto Rico Democratic primary is the only contest on the ballot on Sunday, featuring Biden, Marianne Williamson, and U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips. All registered voters in Puerto Rico who signed a document at the polls declaring themselves as Democrats are eligible to participate in the primary.
Delegates in the Puerto Rico primary are allocated according to the national party’s rules, with 55 pledged Democratic delegates at stake. Candidates must receive at least 15% of the statewide vote to qualify for delegates in Puerto Rico. Biden is the clear favorite in the primary, and the AP will only declare a winner when it becomes clear that no scenario will allow trailing candidates to close the gap. Turnout in past Democratic Puerto Rico primaries has varied, with a range from a few thousand votes to almost 400,000 in the 2008 primary between Obama and Clinton.
Party officials expect to have final results from the primary by 5 p.m. ET after polls close at 3 p.m. ET. As the primary unfolds, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. With 113 days until the Democratic National Convention and 191 days until the general election, Sunday’s primary in Puerto Rico marks an important step in the presidential race. Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2024 election for updates on the primary and upcoming events in the campaign.
