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“Colonies Problem”: Stacey Plaskett Sparks Debate Over U.S. Territories’ Representation
On January 3, 2025, during the vote for Speaker of the House, Stacey Plaskett, a non-voting delegate representing the U.S. Virgin Islands, took a bold stand on the House floor. Her remarks, which criticized the lack of voting rights for delegates from U.S. territories, highlighted a long-standing issue: the political disenfranchisement of millions of Americans living in U.S. territories. The incident, which ended with her microphone being cut off mid-speech, has since ignited a fresh debate about the status of these territories and their place in American democracy.
As lawmakers gathered to vote for the next Speaker of the House, Plaskett used the opportunity to raise a parliamentary inquiry. She questioned why delegates from U.S. territories — including the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia — were excluded from participating in the election. Combined, these territories represent four million Americans, many of whom, as Plaskett pointed out, are veterans who have served their country.
“This body, and this nation, has a territories and a colonies problem,” Plaskett declared, her voice rising above cries of “order!” from Republican members. She went on to accuse Congress of perpetuating a colonial system in which…
