The Question of U.S. Statehood: Why No Other Territories Have Followed Alaska and Hawaii Since 1959

As of the late 20th century, Alaska and Hawaii were added as the 49th and 50th states to the United States in 1959 and 1960 respectively. Since then, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. have garnered enough support for statehood, whereas territories like the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa do not meet the required population thresholds. The debate over other territories joining the union has largely stalled.

The political landscape and challenges

The key hurdle in achieving statehood is not a lack of potential candidates, but the current political opposition from Republican lawmakers. Specifically, Republican legislators view Puerto Rico joining the union as a significant drain on federal resources, estimating that adding Puerto Rico as a state could be worse than adding the entire state of Texas. This skepticism reflects a broader concern among Republicans about the fiscal implications of expanding statehood.

The status of recent statehood attempts

Puerto Rico has been at the forefront of recent statehood efforts. The territory declared bankruptcy in 2015, and its financial situation has only worsened with hurricanes in the years since. This economic instability has fuelled debates about the practicality of statehood. Moreover, Puerto Rico's bond rating is lower than that of the smallest states, which could pose challenges in terms of financial governance and statehood.

Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands are also territories, but they have no interest in statehood. The territories of American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands are too far from the continental United States and have relatively low populations, making them unlikely candidates for statehood. Given these constraints, it seems unlikely that any other territory will be added to the union in the near future.

History of U.S. statehood reinforces the point that the process is not merely about population. The addition of Hawaii as the 50th state in 1959 marked a significant change, particularly since it was added 8 months after Alaska in January 1959. This historical context highlights that statehood has not been a continuous process; instead, it has been sporadic and influenced by legislative and political factors.

Current prospects for Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has been pushing for statehood through various channels. A 2020 referendum in Puerto Rico overwhelmingly supported full statehood. In response, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill in April 2023 that legally binds future referendums to be binding. Congress now faces limited options if Puerto Ricans vote for statehood. While the bill received strong support from Democrats and only 16 Republicans, it is clear that statehood for Puerto Rico is a possibility. Public figures, including President Joe Biden, advocate for Puerto Rico's statehood.

Conclusion

While other territories like The U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa are too far from the continental United States and lack significant populations, Puerto Rico remains the most promising candidate for statehood. Its population is more than 7 times that of Wyoming, and efforts to achieve statehood have gained momentum, driven by financial reform and political support. It is likely that Puerto Rico will join the union as the 51st state in the near future, while other territories face challenges in meeting the necessary criteria for statehood.