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Hochul to head to Puerto Rico political junket, with plans to avoid pol who backed Blakeman
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is travelling to Puerto Rico for the annual SOMOS political gathering, but will hold her gala at a casino rather than the governor’s residence. The change follows her support for Republican Bruce Blakeman, and continues her avoidance of Puerto Rico’s Republican governor, Jenniffer González-Colón.
Hochul previously hosted the event at La Fortaleza, before González-Colón was elected in 2024. More than one million Puerto Ricans live in New York, nearly three-quarters of them in New York City, making the community politically significant. The gathering brings together elected officials, union leaders, lobbyists and advocates after the November elections; Hochul’s final scheduled public event is a labour breakfast on Saturday.
In short
- Hochul will hold her SOMOS gala at a San Juan casino.
- She has avoided Puerto Rico’s governor for two years.
- More than one million Puerto Ricans live in New York.
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The case for
Hochul can argue that choosing a casino venue and limiting contact with González-Colón keeps the gathering focused on New York’s Puerto Rican community and avoids lending the governor political visibility after her support for Blakeman. With a large Puerto Rican electorate in New York, she may see the trip as an opportunity to maintain ties with constituents and labour and community leaders.
The case against
Critics can argue that avoiding González-Colón turns a civic and political gathering into a partisan signal, especially when Hochul previously hosted the event at La Fortaleza. A governor’s role includes engaging counterparts across party lines, and a conspicuous change of venue may appear to put electoral calculations ahead of courtesy and cooperation with Puerto Rico’s elected leadership.
Explained simply
SOMOS is an annual political gathering in Puerto Rico attended by New York politicians, union leaders, lobbyists and community advocates. It takes place after the November elections and offers an opportunity for officials to meet people involved in politics and public life.
Kathy Hochul is New York’s governor, and Jenniffer González-Colón is Puerto Rico’s governor; Puerto Rico is a US territory, not a state. Hochul previously held a SOMOS gala at La Fortaleza, the governor’s residence, before González-Colón was elected in 2024.
More than a million Puerto Ricans live in New York, most of them in New York City, making the community an important part of the state’s electorate. Political relationships around the gathering can therefore matter to New York officials and the groups that seek to influence policy.