Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, has become a force of cultural influence beyond music. He is known for his genre-defining reggaeton hits, but recently has become an outspoken activist for Puerto Ricans.
Bad Bunny has urged young Puerto Ricans to register to vote, advocating for change on the island. He even released a new song last week, Una Velita, protesting the dire situation in the island when a storm or hurricane hits. This is his way to criticize the local government and, with it, the US Government that also has a responsibility towards the island.
His “involvement” in politics has been only local so far, however, given his vast popularity, especially among young Latinos, Bad Bunny’s voice could have ripple effects in critical battleground states like Pennsylvania and the rest of the nation.
Pennsylvania’s Latino Voters: A Growing Force
Pennsylvania has around 579,000 Latino eligible voters, representing about 6% of the state’s total electorate. More than half of these Latino voters—53.4%—are of Puerto Rican descent, making them a critical demographic in the 2024 election. Additionally, Latinos aged 18 to 24 are the third-largest racial or ethnic group among young voters in the state.
In 2020, President Joe Biden secured Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes by a slim margin of 81,000 votes, with Latino voters playing a pivotal role. Biden won the Latino vote in Pennsylvania by a 3-to-1 margin over Donald Trump, and their support could once again be decisive in 2024, especially with the state’s battleground status. With Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate, winning Pennsylvania is key to securing the presidency.
The Power of a possible Bad Bunny’s Endorsement
Celebrities often wield enormous influence in shaping public opinion, especially among younger voters. For instance, Kamala Harris has already received the endorsement of pop superstar Taylor Swift, which could help her with young voters. But an endorsement from Bad Bunny—arguably the biggest Latino artist in the world today—could sway Latino voters in Pennsylvania, particularly Puerto Ricans. His advocacy for voter registration and activism in Puerto Rico has inspired thousands, and his voice could mobilize Latino youth to turn out in even greater numbers for the 2024 election.
If he were to extend his political influence beyond Puerto Rico and endorse Kamala Harris or Donald Trump (which appears to be more unlikely), it could energize a key voting bloc in Pennsylvania and other battleground states with large young Latino populations.
Its important to note that Donald Trump has garnered support from other Latino artists, including Nicky Jam, Justin Quiles, and Anuel AA. These endorsements are probably part of a broader strategy to win over Latino voters, who will be crucial for the outcome of the 2024 election.
The Road Ahead for Bad Bunny and Pennsylvania
While Bad Bunny’s political involvement has so far been focused on Puerto Rico, if he were to decide to endorse a candidate in the US Presidential election, I believe his influence would be significant, particularly among young voters. Not only Bad Bunny’s fans but the 579,000 Latino voters in Pennsylvania could very well decide the state’s electoral votes—and potentially the presidency.
Elisa Totaro
IG : @Totaro.Elisa
