Puerto rico votes to become the 51st state in 1997
What would be the ramifications in elections etc?
Assuming statehood is approved by the GOP congress:
Pending redistricting, Puerto Rico is temporarily awarded 1 House rep, and the House temporarily has 436 seats.
US Senate now has 102 seats. Puerto Rico's two Senate seats are both likely democratic.
In the 2000 election, there are a total of 541 possible electoral votes.
Puerto Rico's 3 electoral votes go to Gore, so assuming Gore wins all the states he won in OTL, he loses the election by a single electoral vote, 271-270.
Dems start the 107th Congress in 2001 with a 52-50 seat advantage in the Senate (vs. 50-50 in OTL).
In 2003, following the 2000 Census and redistricting, the House reverts to 435 seats, with Puerto Rico now having 4 House seats. So in the 2004 election, there are a total of 540 electoral votes.