search
Sections List
American Journal News

130,000 Puerto Ricans abandoned by Trump move to state he won by only 113,000 votes

Donald Trump’s heartless behavior in the wake of the devastation in Puerto Rico has caused the situation to spiral into one of the worst humanitarian disasters on U.S. soil in a century. And Puerto Ricans may well be planning to punish him for it at the ballot box in 2020. Although Puerto Rico has no […]

By Matthew Chapman - November 13, 2017
Share
Donald Trump

And Puerto Ricans may well be planning to punish him for it at the ballot box in 2020.

Although Puerto Rico has no votes in the electoral college, Florida does — and according to the Tampa Bay Times, that happens to be where most economic refugees of the destruction in Puerto Rico are settling:

Some 130,000 Puerto Ricans have arrived in Florida since Hurricane Maria, adding to an already steady wave and signaling a potential major development in I-4 corridor politics.

Experts at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College in New York estimate that more than 300,000 Puerto Ricans could leave the island in the next two years, and Florida would likely attract many of those.

The political ramifications are big and at least on paper favors Democrats, as Puerto Ricans tend to vote for the party.

Trump, incidentally, only won Florida by 113,000 votes.

And in addition to the 130,000 Puerto Ricans who have moved there since September, there are 1 million who already lived in the key swing state — which could badly hurt Trump’s chances of winning the state again.

More than a month after Hurricane Maria hit, hundreds are dead and most of the island is still without water or power, reducing some desperate families to pulling water from a toxic waste site. A power company with ties to one of Trump’s cronies was fired for price-gouging the Puerto Rican government, and is now under investigation by the FBI.

For his part, Trump sent almost no military forces to help, blocked foreign ships from delivering supplies, got into a Twitter feud with the mayor of San Juan, and on his trip to the island, did nothing to help devastated Puerto Ricans except throw some paper towels at them.

Trump may have thought that Puerto Rico was less worthy of his attention than Texas or Florida because Puerto Ricans had no say over his election. Unfortunately for him, many of them do — and in the next election, their voices will be a lot louder.


AJ News
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Read More
AJ News
Latest
Susan Collins failed to report up to $395,000 in stock trades

Susan Collins failed to report up to $395,000 in stock trades

By Jesse Valentine - June 05, 2026
Barrett sells Haiti-made t-shirts despite ‘Made in USA’ claim

Barrett sells Haiti-made t-shirts despite ‘Made in USA’ claim

By Jesse Valentine - June 04, 2026
Ashley Hinson launches false attack ad minutes after Turek’s primary win

Ashley Hinson launches false attack ad minutes after Turek’s primary win

By Jesse Valentine - June 04, 2026
‘Nope, you’re fine’: This Black doctor nearly died after giving birth in Reno

‘Nope, you’re fine’: This Black doctor nearly died after giving birth in Reno

By Bonnie Fuller - June 03, 2026
De La Cruz accepted cash from agent accused of stealing public funds

De La Cruz accepted cash from agent accused of stealing public funds

By Jesse Valentine - June 03, 2026
Trump economy squeezes gig workers, new report says

Trump economy squeezes gig workers, new report says

By Jesse Valentine - June 02, 2026
Hinson promised more town halls, she hasn’t held one all year

Hinson promised more town halls, she hasn’t held one all year

By Jesse Valentine - June 02, 2026
Whatley spent two decades cashing in as a corporate lobbyist

Whatley spent two decades cashing in as a corporate lobbyist

By Jesse Valentine - May 27, 2026
New memo accuses GOP Senate hopefuls of self-enrichment

New memo accuses GOP Senate hopefuls of self-enrichment

By Jesse Valentine - May 27, 2026
John James PAC hired consultants tied to alleged campaign finance scheme

John James PAC hired consultants tied to alleged campaign finance scheme

By Jesse Valentine - May 22, 2026
Marty O’Donnell downplays jobs crisis facing young people

Marty O’Donnell downplays jobs crisis facing young people

By Jesse Valentine - May 21, 2026
Mike Lawler used taxpayer funds to promote GOP tax law

Mike Lawler used taxpayer funds to promote GOP tax law

By Jesse Valentine - May 21, 2026
Gabe Evans stayed silent as Colorado meatpacking workers went on strike

Gabe Evans stayed silent as Colorado meatpacking workers went on strike

By Jesse Valentine - May 18, 2026
David Schweikert wants Arizona’s public lands in private hands

David Schweikert wants Arizona’s public lands in private hands

By Jesse Valentine - May 14, 2026
Nunn talks tough on banks after taking $260K from credit card industry

Nunn talks tough on banks after taking $260K from credit card industry

By Jesse Valentine - May 13, 2026
Hyde-Smith took fertilizer money as farmers struggled with soaring costs

Hyde-Smith took fertilizer money as farmers struggled with soaring costs

By Jesse Valentine - May 13, 2026
Adam Steen touts Iowa manufacturing despite outsourcing to China

Adam Steen touts Iowa manufacturing despite outsourcing to China

By Jesse Valentine - May 12, 2026
Republican Patti Adair endorsed cutting Medicaid, repealing Obamacare

Republican Patti Adair endorsed cutting Medicaid, repealing Obamacare

By Jesse Valentine - May 12, 2026
Chuck Edwards took $50k from utility executive as rates rose across North Carolina

Chuck Edwards took $50k from utility executive as rates rose across North Carolina

By Jesse Valentine - May 08, 2026
Mike Lawler is still spending campaign cash on limousines

Mike Lawler is still spending campaign cash on limousines

By Jesse Valentine - May 06, 2026
Lombardo under fire as donor cash follows controversial actions

Lombardo under fire as donor cash follows controversial actions

By Jesse Valentine - May 05, 2026
Ashley Hinson backed rollbacks as PFAS contamination spread

Ashley Hinson backed rollbacks as PFAS contamination spread

By Jesse Valentine - May 04, 2026
Fitzpatrick pushes false FBI claim against Democratic opponent

Fitzpatrick pushes false FBI claim against Democratic opponent

By Jesse Valentine - May 04, 2026
Ogles campaign paid consultant who tracked rallygoers’ phones

Ogles campaign paid consultant who tracked rallygoers’ phones

By Jesse Valentine - May 01, 2026
Jonathan Bush likens MaineCare expansion to Putin bombing schools

Jonathan Bush likens MaineCare expansion to Putin bombing schools

By Jesse Valentine - May 01, 2026
Tennessee desperately tries to silence women nearly killed by its abortion ban

Tennessee desperately tries to silence women nearly killed by its abortion ban

By Bonnie Fuller - April 29, 2026
Susan Collins declines to investigate White House funding and war actions

Susan Collins declines to investigate White House funding and war actions

By Jesse Valentine - April 29, 2026
Garrity praised rioters, questioned 2020 election in unearthed posts

Garrity praised rioters, questioned 2020 election in unearthed posts

By Jesse Valentine - April 22, 2026
JoAnna Mendoza, AZ Marine vet and mom, says she’ll represent her neighbors in Congress

JoAnna Mendoza, AZ Marine vet and mom, says she’ll represent her neighbors in Congress

By Bonnie Fuller - April 21, 2026
GOP Michigan candidates still claim Trump won 2020 election

GOP Michigan candidates still claim Trump won 2020 election

By Jesse Valentine - April 21, 2026
Janelle Stelson says it’s time to make Pennsylvania affordable again

Janelle Stelson says it’s time to make Pennsylvania affordable again

By Bonnie Fuller - April 17, 2026
Jackson takes credit for Georgia abortion ban, backs even stricter limits

Jackson takes credit for Georgia abortion ban, backs even stricter limits

By Jesse Valentine - April 15, 2026
Carrie Buck opposed effort to lower prescription drug prices in Nevada

Carrie Buck opposed effort to lower prescription drug prices in Nevada

By Jesse Valentine - April 15, 2026
Husted’s budget plan would force deep cuts to Social Security and Medicare

Husted’s budget plan would force deep cuts to Social Security and Medicare

By Jesse Valentine - April 14, 2026
Barrett took big money from donors who profited from GOP tax law

Barrett took big money from donors who profited from GOP tax law

By Jesse Valentine - April 14, 2026
Dan Sullivan made up to $2 million in stock trades while serving in Senate

Dan Sullivan made up to $2 million in stock trades while serving in Senate

By Jesse Valentine - April 14, 2026

Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License .