OPINION:
Republicans desperately need a high-profile figure who can talk credibly to Hispanic voters, successfully making the case that their plans on issues such as economic growth and immigration are the right ones.
That person was President Trump for a long time, but his numbers have fallen, largely because those voters have become uncomfortable with what they see as overreach in the battle to remove the 12 million illegals who entered the country during the Biden years.
Another option is needed. It could and probably should be Puerto Rican Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, a Republican.
She is the national figure Mr. Trump and other party leaders could activate as the liaison to the Hispanic electorate before the midterms to stop the Republicans’ hemorrhaging of Hispanic votes.
They haven’t activated her, and continuing questions about possible political corruption by her top aide are probably one of the main reasons.
Francisco Domenech is a power in Puerto Rico, no matter which side of the aisle he is on. As a Democrat, he was a 2008 and 2012 superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention and a member of Hillary Clinton’s finance team.
Now he is chief of staff to the island’s governor. He supervises all of Ms. Gonzalez-Colon’s government contracts and is her representative on the control board established by Congress.
Mr. Domenech’s firm represented bondholders after Puerto Rico’s historic bankruptcy, a role that culminated in a lawsuit over his multimillion-dollar lobbying fees.
A special committee of the island legislature is looking into his lobbying activities, but, according to El Nuevo Dia, “instead of clearing up doubts,” the answers he gave under oath “about who bought and how [his] lobbying firm Politank was sold in December 2024 have raised even more questions.”
The level of trust Ms. Gonzales-Colon has apparently placed in Mr. Domenech overlooks his former party affiliation and the questions about his business ethics, as well as his 2018 arrest on charges of violent domestic abuse.
The corruption allegations involve what economists call “rent-seeking,” the use of political power to secure economic advantage without creating value. Contracts, influence, access and even the perception that key decisions are shaped by insiders rather than open competition all undermine confidence in the system.
Investors, entrepreneurs and small-business owners make decisions based on the expectation that rules are clear and fairly enforced. When those rules appear malleable, as when connections seem to matter more than merit, capital retreats. Opportunity shrinks.
For decades, Puerto Rico’s economic underperformance has been owed to something other than just natural disasters. There are plenty of internal distortions: overregulation, political favoritism and a culture that too often rewards proximity to power over productive enterprise.
The result has been predictable: an exodus of talent, stagnant investment and dependence on federal lifelines.
If the governor’s office is seen as tolerating or enabling questionable conduct at the highest levels, then the innovators, investors and job creators Puerto Rico needs to get back on its feet are likely to walk away.
The case for Ms. Gonzalez-Colon’s leadership rests on her credibility. She speaks passionately and effectively about growth, investment and opportunity, all of which are incompatible with cronyism.
As politically awkward as it might be, Mr. Domenech must be removed. Perception matters, and if investigations reveal wrongdoing, then consequences must follow. Markets function when rules are enforced consistently, not selectively.
Now is the time for Mr. Trump to engage. The structural reform expected to be imposed by the presidentially appointed, Congress-established control board needs to finally happen.
Mr. Trump must fill the vacancies that are his to fill on Puerto Rico’s Federal Oversight and Management Board to create accountability for its dealings. The board can take the lead in the fight against cronyism by strengthening procurement rules, reducing discretionary power in contract awards and affirming the rule of law’s preeminence over insider business dealings.
“Business as usual” is what has kept Puerto Rico from realizing its full potential. The island cannot afford another cycle of scandal, denial and drift.
To be clear, allegations are not proof, but leadership is not judged solely on legal thresholds. It is judged according to standards, and the ethical bar for those entrusted with public power must be higher than “not yet proven.”
A broader lesson here extends beyond any single administration. Economic freedom is not just about tax rates or deregulation. It is also about the integrity of institutions. A low-tax, lightly regulated economy will fail if it is captured by insiders.
Conversely, even imperfect systems can thrive when rules are transparent and fairly applied.
Puerto Rico and its people are nothing if not resilient, but they are now at a crossroads. They can continue to tolerate the gray areas where influence and governance blur, or they can draw a bright line in favor of openness and competition.
The choice lies with Ms. Gonzalez-Colon and Mr. Trump.
• A veteran journalist, commentator and highly regarded political analyst, Peter Roff is now affiliated with several public policy organizations, including Frontiers of Freedom. You can reach him at RoffColumns@GMAIL.com and follow him on social media @TheRoffDraft.
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