Live blog: Somos 2026

11 a.m. – Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Somos

A Q&A with Assembly Member Karines Reyes

Assembly Member Karines Reyes, who chairs the Somos conference and the Assembly and Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, spoke with City & State about the upcoming conference, its milestone anniversary and concerns about the impact on Puerto Rico’s water crisis. Read more here. – Kate Lisa

10 a.m. – Somos outbound

A packed flight to the Caribbean

The 10:35 a.m. flight out of Newark Airport buzzed with energy as gleeful Democratic elected officials set out for San Juan, Puerto Rico, buoyed by last night’s results – a far cry from the dejected energy that followed President Donald Trump’s victory two years ago. 

“Would you describe it as more of a shellacking or more of an ass-whooping?” New York City Comptroller Mark Levine joked, turning to City Council Member Eric Dinowitz who sat at his side outside the gate. (Levine had waxed a bit more poetic earlier, describing the results as a long time coming, a new dawn even.)

“I don’t use foul language – I don’t say anything to press that I wouldn’t want my kids to see,” Dinowitz quipped, before pivoting to the path ahead.

“We have a party that’s more interested in working families than in the very few wealthy people,” he said. “We have two years to demonstrate to the American people that we have a productive agenda that isn’t just no Trump.”

Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, New York City Council Member Kamillah Hanks, Housing activist Shams DaBaron, Reed Dunlea of New York Immigration Coalition and political consultant William Lynch were among those also spotted en route to Somos. – Sahalie Donaldson

9:45 a.m. – New York pols are pushing bills about Puerto Rico

Helping the island’s financial outlook

Every year, New York’s political class flocks to Somos following Election Day, in a sign of the central importance that Latinos, and particularly Puerto Ricans, have in the state’s politics. But lawmakers of Puerto Rican descent want to do more than just celebrate Puerto Rican heritage; they want to change the relationship that currently exists between the United States and Puerto Rico. Read more here. – Peter Sterne

Nov. 2 – What people will be talking about at Somos

What’s the poolside rumor mill cooking up?

We’re heading down to San Juan for another year at Somos. Fresh off Election Day, there’s a lot to consider heading into a quiet 2027 – and setting the stage for more exciting elections in 2028 and 2029. Read more here. – Sophie Krichevsky