Jenniffer González-Colón facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jenniffer González Colón
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Official portrait, 2016
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| Governor of Puerto Rico | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Pedro Pierluisi |
| 20th Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico | |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 2, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Pedro Pierluisi |
| Succeeded by | Pablo Hernández Rivera |
| Chair of the Puerto Rico Republican Party | |
| In office November 15, 2015 – May 7, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Carlos Méndez |
| Succeeded by | Ángel Cintrón |
| Minority Leader of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives | |
| In office January 12, 2013 – January 2, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Luis Raúl Torres |
| Succeeded by | Tatito Hernández |
| 29th Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives | |
| In office January 2, 2009 – January 2, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | José Aponte Hernández |
| Succeeded by | Jaime Perelló |
| Member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from the at-large district |
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| In office January 2, 2005 – January 2, 2017 |
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| Member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from the 4th district |
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| In office February 28, 2002 – January 2, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Edison Misla Aldarondo |
| Succeeded by | Liza Fernández Rodríguez |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jenniffer Aydin González Colón
August 5, 1976 San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Political party | New Progressive |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican |
| Spouse |
José Yovín Vargas
(m. 2022) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | La Fortaleza |
| Education | |
Jenniffer González Colón (born August 5, 1976) is a politician from Puerto Rico. She became the Governor of Puerto Rico on January 2, 2025. Before that, she was the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico from 2017 to 2025.
González Colón has held many important roles in politics. She was the leader of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico. She also served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico and the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico. She is the second woman to be elected Governor of Puerto Rico and the first woman to be elected Resident Commissioner.
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Early Life and Education
Jenniffer González was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She went to University Gardens High School. Later, she earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Puerto Rico's Río Piedras campus.
While in college, she was the executive director of the Young Republican Federation of Puerto Rico. She also studied law at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law, earning both a Juris Doctor and an LL.M. degree.
Political Journey
Becoming a Representative
González Colón first became a member of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico in 2002. She won a special election for the 4th District of San Juan. She was the first woman to represent this district and the youngest person ever elected to the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly.
Before this, she was very active in youth politics. She led the youth organization for the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico in San Juan. She was also involved in student movements that supported Puerto Rico becoming a U.S. state.
In 2004, she was re-elected as a representative for the whole island, not just one district. She led the House Government Affairs Committee and worked on important topics like the budget and women's affairs.
Leading the House of Representatives
In 2008, González Colón was re-elected again. At 32 years old, she was chosen by her party to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico. This made her the youngest person in Puerto Rican history to hold this powerful position. She was also the third woman to become Speaker.
Leading the Republican Party
In 2015, Jenniffer González was chosen to lead the Republican Party of Puerto Rico. She had been the party's vice-chair for eight years. This role was once held by famous leaders like Luis A. Ferré, who founded the New Progressive Party.
Serving as Minority Leader
In 2012, González Colón was re-elected to the House, getting the most votes overall. Even though her party lost the majority of seats, she was chosen to be the Minority Leader. This meant she led her party's members in the House.
Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
Elections for Resident Commissioner
In 2015, Jenniffer González announced she would run for Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. This person represents Puerto Rico in the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. In 2016, she won her party's primary election by a large margin.
On November 8, 2016, she was elected Resident Commissioner. She became the first woman and the youngest person to represent Puerto Rico in the U.S. Congress since the position was created in 1900.
As Resident Commissioner, González Colón worked on bills related to veterans, health, and tax relief for Puerto Rico. She was a member of important committees, including the Natural Resources Committee and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
She spent a lot of time helping Puerto Rico recover after Hurricanes Irma and María in 2017. She also focused on disaster recovery after an earthquake hit Puerto Rico in 2020.
Committee Work in Congress
As Resident Commissioner, Jenniffer González Colón served on several key committees:
- Committee on Natural Resources
- This committee deals with issues related to land, water, and wildlife.
- Committee on Small Business
- This committee focuses on helping small businesses grow and succeed.
- Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
- This committee works on issues important to military veterans.
Governor of Puerto Rico
In 2023, González Colón announced she would run for Governor of Puerto Rico. She challenged the current governor, Pedro Pierluisi, in the primary election. She won the primary, becoming the first woman to be the New Progressive Party's candidate for governor.
On November 5, 2024, Jenniffer González won the general election and became the Governor of Puerto Rico. She was sworn into office on January 2, 2025. She is the second woman to be elected to this position and the third woman to serve as Governor.
Political Views
Jenniffer González Colón is known for supporting Puerto Rico becoming a U.S. state. She also believes in small government and policies that help businesses. She is considered a conservative politician.
She has worked with members from both major political parties in the U.S. Congress. For example, she supported the Equality Act, which aims to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
After the 2021 United States Capitol attack, she spoke out against the violence and said that President Donald Trump was responsible for it.
Energy Policy
As Governor, González Colón created a special group to look at Puerto Rico’s energy system. She wants to find new ways to provide electricity and is considering changes to the main electricity company, LUMA Energy. She has appointed Josué Colón Ortiz as the Energy Czar.
She supports using more liquefied natural gas and might change goals for renewable energy. She also wants to make it easier for people with solar panels to sell extra power back to the electricity grid.
González Colón has been critical of LUMA Energy, saying that their rules can slow down important energy projects. In May 2025, she supported a project to install solar systems with batteries in clinics and public housing in Puerto Rico.
Personal Life
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jenniffer González announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19.
In 2022, she married José Yovín Vargas. They met in 2021 in La Parguera, Lajas, Puerto Rico. Their wedding was attended by many political figures. On February 16, 2024, González Colón gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl.
See also
In Spanish: Jenniffer González para niños
- History of women in Puerto Rico
- List of Puerto Ricans
- List of Hispanic Americans in the United States Congress
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
