Ben Carson thinks Puerto Rico should become the 51st state

(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

published 9 November 2015

In Puerto Rico on Sunday, Ben Carson said he'd like to see the island become the 51st state.

The Republican presidential candidate made the announcement at a rally for gubernatorial candidate Ricky Rosselló, who is running on a pro-statehood platform. "You've already paid your dues," Carson said. "There have probably been more patriotic Puerto Ricans than any other state. Look at all the contributions that have been made to America."

Puerto Rico faces a crushing $72 billion debt, and Carson suggested statehood would help alleviate the crisis. "Hawaii and Alaska also had debt... until things took off, and that will happen here as well," he said. Carson isn't alone; fellow candidates Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush have also both endorsed statehood for Puerto Rico, NBC News reports. Citizens of Puerto Rico cannot vote in the general election, but can participate in the primaries.

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.