SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- A slim majority of Puerto Ricans sought to change their ties with the United States and become the 51st U.S. state in a non-binding referendum that would require final approval from Congress.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- A slim majority of Puerto Ricans sought
to change their ties with the United States and become the 51st U.S.
state in a non-binding referendum that would require final approval from
Congress.
The two-part referendum asked whether the island wanted
to change its 114-year relationship with the United States. Nearly 54
percent, or 922,374 people, sought to change it, while 46 percent, or
786,749 people, favored the status quo. Ninety-six percent of 1,643
precincts were reporting as of early Wednesday.
The second
question asked voters to choose from three options, with statehood by
far the favorite, garnering 61 percent. Sovereign free association,
which would have allowed for more autonomy, received 33 percent, while
independence got 5 percent.
President Barack Obama earlier
expressed support for the referendum and pledged to respect the will of
the people in the event of a clear majority.
It is unclear whether
U.S. Congress will debate the referendum results or if Obama will
consider the results to be a clear enough majority.
Puerto Rico's
resident commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, who has championed statehood, did
not return calls for comment. He received 48 percent or 874,914 votes,
while his opponent, Rafael Cox Alomar, received 47 percent or 855,732
votes with 96 percent of precincts reporting.
The island is
currently a U.S. territory whose inhabitants are U.S. citizens but are
prohibited from voting in presidential elections. Its resident
commissioner in the U.S. House also has limited voting powers.
The future of the island's political status, however, also is dependent on who governs the island.
According
to partial election results, pro-statehood Gov. Luis Fortuno was ousted
by a razor thin margin by an opponent who supports the island's current
political status.
With 96 percent of precincts reporting,
challenger Alejandro Garcia Padilla with the Popular Democratic Party
received 48 percent or 870,005 votes. Fortuno, a Republican and leader
of the New Progressive Party, received 47 percent or 855,325 votes.
Fortuno has not issued comment, while Garcia celebrated what he called a victory.
"I
can assure you we have rescued Puerto Rico," Garcia said. "This is a
lesson to those who think that the well-being of Puerto Ricans should be
subjected to ideologies."
Election results also pointed to a
major upset for Jorge Santini, who has been mayor of the capital of San
Juan for 12 years. His opponent, Carmen Yulin Cruz, received 71,736
votes compared with Santini's 66,945 votes with 96 percent of precincts
reporting.
The island's elections commission said it would resume counting votes late Wednesday morning.
Associated Press