2012 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election

The 2012 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect the Governor of Puerto Rico.

2012 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election
November 6, 2012
 
Nominee Alejandro García Padilla Luis Fortuño
Party PPD PNP
Alliance Democratic Republican
Popular vote 896,060 884,775
Percentage 47.7% 47.1%
Results by municipality
Padilla:      40-50%      50-60%
Fortuño:      40–50%      50–60%
Governor before election

Luis Fortuño
PNP

 Elected Governor

Alejandro Garcia Padilla
PPD

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The incumbent PNP Governor Luis Fortuño and Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi ran for a second term during this election. Their major challengers were the PPD nominee and current Senator Alejandro García Padilla and his running mate, Rafael Cox Alomar. The election also featured four minor party candidates, being the second time in 40 years with six candidates for governor.

In the morning of November 7, 2012, Fortuño conceded the election to Alejandro García Padilla, just as the last votes were being counted.[1] However, Pierluisi retained his position as Resident Commissioner by defeating Cox Alomar. With a margin of 0.6%, this election was the closest race of the 2012 gubernatorial election cycle.

Candidates

New Progressive Party

Incumbent Governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuño, announced his candidacy for reelection in October 2011.[2] Former Secretary of Health, Iván González Cancel, challenged him to a primary, but the court ruled it out.[3][4]

Current senator Alejandro García Padilla, announced his candidacy in March 2011.[5]

Puerto Rican Independence Party

Former Electoral Commissioner Juan Dalmau Ramírez, announced his candidacy for the Puerto Rican Independence Party. In January 2012, he presented his campaign staff and government program.[6]

Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico

Rogelio Figueroa was the candidate for governor for the PPR party.[7]

Movimiento Unión Soberanista

The MUS had chosen Dr. Enrique Vázquez Quintana as candidate for governor.[8] However, in August 2012, Vázquez Quintana withdrew from the candidacy. A week later, he was replaced by Attorney Arturo Hernández, who was formerly president of the Puerto Rico Bar Association.[9] Hernández was already a candidate for the Senate of Puerto Rico.

Working People's Party

Professor Rafael Bernabe was announced as the gubernatorial candidate for the PPT in June 2012.[10]

General election campaign

The campaign of the main opposing party, the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), focused mostly on the problems of crime, unemployment, and high utility costs, attributing them to the failure of the incumbent Governor, Luis Fortuño, from the New Progressive Party (PNP).[11] The PNP, on the other hand, focused mostly on the lack of experience of the PPD candidate, Alejandro García Padilla.[12]

The minority parties have directed their campaign at the inability of the main two parties to administer the country. The Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party (PPR) attacked the alleged classism and social inequality of the current government,[13] while the Working People's Party of Puerto Rico (PPT) advocated for a government more attuned to the working class.[14]

Debates

There were two official debates celebrated with all gubernatorial candidates. The first one was held on September 11, 2012 under the title of "Vota o Quédate Calla'o" ("Vote or Keep your Mouth Shut"). It was transmitted by the television network of Sistema Universitario Ana G. Méndez. The second debate was held on October 25, 2012 under the title of "El Gran Debate". This debate was transmitted by Telemundo and had the best TV ratings for the night with 18.7 and a 27.3% share.[15]

Election results
Puerto Rico gubernatorial election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
PPD Alejandro García Padilla 896,060 47.73% +6.50%
PNP Luis Fortuño 884,775 47.13% -5.68%
PIP Juan Dalmau Ramírez 47,331 2.52% +0.48%
Worker's People Party of Puerto Rico Rafael Bernabe 18,312 0.98% -
Movimiento Unión Soberanista Arturo Hernández 10,523 0.56% -
Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Rogelio Figueroa 6,668 0.36% -2.41%
Others - 13,562 0.73% -
Majority 11,285 0.72% -10.78%
Turnout 1,877,179
PPD gain from PNP

See also

References
  1. "Luis Fortuño acepta su derrota". El Nuevo Día. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  2. "Luis Fortuño anuncia su candidatura a la reelección a gobernador de Puerto Rico en 2012". WKAQ 580. October 7, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  3. Bliss, Peggy Ann (August 1, 2011). "González Cancel launches NPP primary fight". Puerto Rico Daily Sun. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  4. Cordero, Gerardo (September 5, 2012). "Sigue la espera por decisión judicial el médico Iván González Cancel". El Nuevo Día. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  5. Gómez, Antonio (March 7, 2011). "Alejandro García Padilla se tira de pecho". Primera Hora. Archived from the original on March 10, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  6. "PIP presents campaign staff and government program". Puerto Rico Daily Sun. January 30, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  7. "Rogelio Figueroa lanza su campaña como candidato a la gobernación". Archived from the original on February 21, 2013.
  8. "MUS ratifuca sus candidatos para las elecciones generales". RedBetances.
  9. "MUS elige a Arturo Hernández como candidato a gobernador". El Vocero. August 12, 2012. Archived from the original on January 8, 2013.
  10. Rivera, Ivelisse (June 16, 2012). "Rafael Bernabe es el candidato a la gobernación por el PPT". Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  11. "Fortuño no ha cumplido 20 de 24 promesas sobre criminalidad". NotiCel. October 6, 2012. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  12. Cordero, Gerardo and Rebecca Banuchi (October 31, 2012). "Dúo PNP ataca récord legislativo de García Padilla". El Nuevo Día. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  13. Rodríguez, Israel (October 27, 2012). "Un mensaje claro y más contacto". El Nuevo Día. Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  14. Rivera, Aurora (November 4, 2012). "Promete el PPT que seguirá en pie de lucha". El Nuevo Día. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  15. "El Gran Debate acapara la teleaudiencia". El Nuevo Día. Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
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