2008 Puerto Rican general election

General elections were held in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, to elect the officials of the government that would serve for the next four years, most notably the Governor of Puerto Rico.

2008 Puerto Rican general election

← 2004 November 4, 2008 2012 →
Gubernatorial election
 
Nominee Luis Fortuño Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Party New Progressive Popular Democratic
Popular vote 1,025,965 801,071
Percentage 53.06% 41.43%

Results by municipality
Fortuño:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Acevedo Vilá:      40-50%

Governor before election

Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Popular Democratic

Elected Governor

Luis Fortuño
New Progressive

Resident Commissioner election
 
Nominee Pedro Pierluisi Alfredo Salazar Jr.
Party New Progressive Popular Democratic
Alliance Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 1,010,304 810,111
Percentage 52.95% 42.46%

Results by municipality
Pierluisi:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Salazar Jr.:      40-50%      50-60%

The gubernatorial election was won by incumbent Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño of the New Progressive Party (PNP), who defeated incumbent governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) by 53% to 41%. Most other positions were won by PNP candidates, with Pedro Pierluisi winning the election for Resident Commissioner, and the party winning a majority of seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The elections occurred after one term of what was called "shared government", as a result of the 2004 elections. Because of this, the island had a Governor from one party (Acevedo Vilá), while the opposing party held a majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The struggles faced by the opposing parties attempts at cooperation, mixed with the global economic crisis, paved the campaign for this elections. Also, Acevedo Vilá was facing criminal accusations at the time.[1]

Fortuño was sworn in as Governor of Puerto Rico on January 2, 2009.

Background

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The 2008 Puerto Rican election was historic because:

  • It was the first time in more than 20 years that a new party (PPR) joined the three traditional parties in the election.
  • It was the first time in Puerto Rican political history that one of the candidates (Aníbal Acevedo Vilá) faced federal criminal charges.
  • Supporters of former Governor Pedro Rosselló organized to promote a write-in campaign on his behalf after he lost the party primary against Luis Fortuño.[2]

Candidates

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Before the election year, the Constitution of Puerto Rico provides for any qualified person to present their candidacy for a specific position. If two or more candidates from the same party present their candidacy for the same position, and they can't reach an agreement within the party, a primary election is held. This election is held within the inscribed members of each party, to select which of the candidates will represent the party in the general election.

Both of the main parties: New Progressive Party (PNP) and Popular Democratic Party (PPD), held primaries for several positions on March 9, 2008. The PNP primary was more notable for having two candidates for the position of Governor of Puerto Rico.

Governor

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Incumbent Aníbal Acevedo Vilá (PPD/D) decided to run for a second four-year term. He faced a tough reelection campaign due to an indictment in March 2008 for alleged conspiracy to illegally raise money to pay off his campaign debts in 2000[3] and the fallout from the 2006 Puerto Rico budget crisis.

New Progressive Party

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On February 19, 2007, incumbent resident commissioner of Puerto Rico Luis Fortuño announced his candidacy for Governor of Puerto Rico for the 2008 general election and said he will not run for Congress. On May 18, 2007, Fortuño announced that former attorney general Pedro Pierluisi would be his running mate and run for Fortuño's current office of Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. Pierluisi Urrutia was a classmate at Colegio Marista, a fellow member of the Puerto Rico Statehood Students Association and also a fellow cabinet member of Fortuño's during former governor Pedro Rosselló's first term from 1993 to 1996. On March 7, 2007, former Governor Pedro Rosselló stated that he was no longer interested in the Senate Presidency and is now focusing his attention in preventing Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño from winning the March 2008 gubernatorial primary, and has allowed his name to be placed in nomination for the party's gubernatorial primary. Senate President Kenneth McClintock and four other senators won in San Juan Superior Court a suit to nullify the sanctions and expulsions that the party leadership has levied against them. The Puerto Rico Supreme Court confirmed the lower court decision by a 5-to-1 vote. As a result, McClintock and his supporters are recognized as NPP members and free to run under the party banner. On March 9, 2008, Pedro Rosselló conceded the victory to Luis Fortuño after a large margin of votes in favor of his opponent in the NPP party primaries for the presidency of the party and gubernatorial nomination. Rosselló admitted defeat even before the votes were completely tallied claiming Fortuño as the next candidate of the PNP party. In Rosselló's conceding speech he said "Luis Fortuño has been selected by the people to be the new president of this party and the candidate for governor. I always say the people speak and I obey, Fortuño here is your party and here is your office (signaling the party's official headquarters). Now its up to you, the loyal members of this party, to make sure that this new leadership works for the statehood for Puerto Rico".[4] After this conceding speech it was rumored and even announced at Fortuño's headquarters that the former governor would arrive there along with his loyal supporter and mayor of the capital city of San Juan, Jorge Santini, but after Fortuño's followers waited for hours to see their leaders united neither Rosselló or Santini arrived. After the primary was over it was heavily rumored by many that Rosselló would not be campaigning for Fortuño and that he'd resign as senator to go back to his home in Virginia. On March 10, 2008, Rosselló sent the media a written statement regarding his future in which he confirmed he will be retiring from active politics and will not be campaigning for any candidate, however he will finish his term as Senator for the Arecibo District.

Puerto Ricans For Puerto Rico Party

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This Party was a newcomer to the political scene and put forward Rogelio Figueroa as it candidate for governor. It campaigned as a no status party, similar to the PPD at its start.

Puerto Rico Independence Party

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The party had failed to register in the former 2004 elections. A new face was selected to run, as Edwin Irrizary Mora was the gubernatorial candidate. It campaigned as the "radical" option for voters.

Final candidates

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After the primaries, the official candidates for Governor of Puerto Rico were set. The incumbent governor, Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, Popular Democratic Party (PPD) faced the following candidates for the Governorship:

Resident Commissioner

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The incumbent one-term Resident Commissioner (same as non-voting territorial delegate) Luis Fortuño, of the (NPP/R), was retiring from his House seat to run for Governor of Puerto Rico.

Pedro Pierluisi (NPP), the former Puerto Rican Secretary of Justice under former Governor Pedro Rosselló,[5][6] was the favorite to succeed Fortuño over economist Alfredo Salazar (PDP).

Regardless of which of the two men won, the seat would switch from Republican to Democratic hands in January as both candidates would caucuses with the Democrats.[5] However, this seat would not have impacted which party controls the chamber.

Final candidates

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Results

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Governor

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Luis FortuñoNew Progressive Party1,025,96553.06
Aníbal Acevedo ViláPopular Democratic Party801,07141.43
Rogelio FigueroaPuerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party53,6932.78
Edwin Irizarry MoraPuerto Rican Independence Party39,5902.05
Write-ins13,2150.68
Total1,933,534100.00
Valid votes1,933,53499.58
Invalid votes4,8880.25
Blank votes3,2820.17
Total votes1,941,704100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,458,03678.99
Source: Puerto Rico Election Archive

Resident Commissioner

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Pedro PierluisiNew Progressive Party1,010,30452.95
Alfredo Salazar Jr.Popular Democratic Party810,11142.46
Carlos Alberto VelázquezPuerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party46,1262.42
Jessica Martínez BirrielPuerto Rican Independence Party37,8651.98
Write-ins3,7190.19
Total1,908,125100.00
Valid votes1,908,12599.57
Invalid votes4,8880.26
Blank votes3,2820.17
Total votes1,916,295100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,458,03677.96
Source: Puerto Rico Election Archive

Senate

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PartyAt-largeDistrictTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
New Progressive Party886,19648.1261,887,96851.201622
Popular Democratic Party803,41543.6391,632,54544.2809
Puerto Rican Independence Party90,1714.90080,9202.1900
Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party38,1032.07084,4372.2900
Other parties4120.0201,2240.0300
Independents23,1581.2600
Total1,841,455100.00153,687,094100.001631
Valid votes1,841,45598.95
Invalid votes8,4280.45
Blank votes11,0550.59
Total votes1,860,938100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,458,03675.71
Source: Puerto Rico Election Archive

House of Representatives

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PartyAt-largeDistrictTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
New Progressive Party913,03749.286959,64451.373137
Popular Democratic Party802,77943.338826,87844.26917
Puerto Rican Independence Party93,8165.06040,2692.1600
Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party42,7092.31038,3932.0600
Other parties5000.0301,7320.0900
Independents1,1480.0600
Total1,852,841100.00141,868,064100.004054
Valid votes1,852,84198.96
Invalid votes8,4280.45
Blank votes11,0550.59
Total votes1,872,324100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,458,03676.17
Source: Puerto Rico Election Archive

Mayors

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PartyMayoralties
New Progressive Party48
Popular Democratic Party30
Puerto Rican Independence Party0
Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party0
Total78

References

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  1. "2008 General Elections Results". State Commission of Elections of Puerto Rico Archived 2008-11-07 at the Wayback Machine. San Juan, Puerto Rico. November 4, 2008.
  1. ^ El impacto electoral de Barbadoro Archived June 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine on El Nuevo Día; Colón Dávila, Javier
  2. ^ "Lupa al "write in" para Pedro Rosselló" [Magnifying glass for write in for Pedro Rosselló]. Primera Hora (Puerto Rico) (in Spanish). March 24, 2008. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  3. ^ Rivera, Manuel Ernesto (March 27, 2008). "Puerto Rican Governor Faces 19 Counts". Associated Press.
  4. ^ Rosselló's concession speech (Spanish) March 9, 2008
  5. ^ a b "Res. Com. Pedro Pierluisi (D-PR, At-Large) -- the Almanac of American Politics". Archived from the original on December 16, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  6. ^ Dunham, Mike (March 10, 2008). "Fortuño wins pro-statehood primary in Puerto Rico". New York Daily News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
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