In 2014, Congressman Jose Serrano had the highest percentage of Puerto Ricans in his district – roughly 25% of the population. He was followed by Reps. Alan Grayson (24.7%), Nydia Velazquez (15%), Charlie Rangel (13%), and Richie Neal (12%) – all Democrats.
The Republican members of Congress with the highest percentage of Puerto Rican were Rep. John Mica (9.56%), Rep. Joe Pitts (16%) and Rep. Charlie Dent (13%). Mica is from Florida, and Pitts and Dent are Pennsylvanians.
Of the ten Representatives with the highest Puerto Rican populations in the country, eight are cosponsors of the Puerto Rico Status Resolution Act of 2013. The only two who are not cosponsors of the legislation are Velazquez and Rep. Richie Neal (D-MA).
The congressional districts with the largest percentages of Puerto Ricans are consistent with the states where the most Puerto Ricans reside generally: New York, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Illinois.
These numbers are likely to increase in the future as migration accelerates in the face of difficult economic times in the U.S. territory.
For complete information, click here for a chart compiled based on U.S. Census figures from 2010, the latest year that data is available for all members of Congress. A second compilation using the less thorough but more timely 2013 figures can be accessed here.
