Major Puerto Rican organization is backing Cori Bush in MO-01 election.
MAY 22, 2026 | WASHINGTON, D.C. - Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora (BUDPR), a leading organization of Puerto Ricans in the United States, today announced their endorsement of Congresswoman Cori Bush in the Missouri 1st District Democratic primary, citing Rep. Bush’s support for Puerto Rico’s independence and her commitment to champion decolonization in the U.S. Congress.
“I'm proud to have the support of Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora and of members of the Puerto Rican community in my district, my state, and across the country as I campaign to take back Missouri’s 1st District," said Rep. Bush. When I return to Congress, I’ll keep fighting for Puerto Ricans on the archipelago and in the United States, and I’ll continue to advocate for an effective decolonization process that achieves true justice and liberation for the Puerto Rican people.”
Former Rep. Bush is running to reclaim the U.S. House of Representatives seat she held from 2021-2025. During that time, she was a staunch ally of the Puerto Rican people in Congress. In 2021 she co-sponsored the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act, which would have paved the way for an inclusive and democratic decolonization process for Puerto Rico. In 2024, she delivered a floor speech denouncing exploitation and displacement on the island caused by wealthy Americans moving there to enjoy colonial tax breaks. Later that year she joined Reps. Nydia Velázquez and Delia Ramírez to introduce a resolution calling for the end of the colonial tax incentive known as Act 22.
Rep. Bush taking a stand for Puerto Rico’s decolonization and independence is a historic step forward for an American lawmaker, and signals a new era of growing support for Puerto Rico’s liberation in the United States.
“Congresswoman Bush is a fighter who leads with her values, and her support for Puerto Rican sovereignty is a bold and courageous stance that brings those values to the forefront,” said Alberto Medina, President of Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora. “We are honored to endorse Rep. Bush and we look forward to working with her when she is back in Congress to free Puerto Rico.”
This is BUDPR’s first endorsement of the 2026 election cycle, as part of a growing campaign to influence and recognize U.S. political leaders who are ready to champion Puerto Rico’s independence after 128 years of U.S. colonial rule. There are nearly 6 million Puerto Rican voters in the United States—including 20,000 in Rep. Bush’s home state of Missouri—who want action on Puerto Rico’s colonial status and who can have a decisive impact in the 2026 elections.
“For too long, members of Congress have relied on euphemisms like ‘self-determination’ to avoid taking a clear position on Puerto Rico’s status. That hasn’t worked; Puerto Rico is still a colony,” said Medina. “Congress has a responsibility to end that colonial status, and we’re ready to work with candidates and elected officials to help them fight for Puerto Rico and to help them win.”
Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora (BUDPR) will announce additional endorsements in House and Senate races across the country in the coming weeks.
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About BUDPR
Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora (BUDPR) is a national advocacy organization of Puerto Ricans in the United States working toward a free, just, and prosperous future for Puerto Rico. BUDPR is the only national political organization that prioritizes decolonization and explicitly advocates for Puerto Rican independence. We use our influence in U.S. politics and society to support and ultimately free Puerto Rico.