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2012 Puerto Rican general election

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General elections were held in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the officials of the Puerto Rican government that would serve for the next four years, including the governor, resident commissioner and members of the Legislative Assembly.[1] A status referendum was held on the same date.

2012 Puerto Rican general election
← 2008 November 6, 2012 2016 →
Gubernatorial election
Turnout78.11%
 
Candidate Alejandro García Padilla Luis Fortuño
Party Popular Democratic New Progressive
Popular vote 896,060 884,775
Percentage 48.04% 47.44%
Results by municipality
Padilla:      40-50%      50-60%
Fortuño:      40–50%      50–60%
Governor before election

Luis Fortuño
New Progressive

Elected Governor

Alejandro García Padilla
Popular Democratic

Resident Commissioner election
 
Candidate Pedro Pierluisi Rafael Cox Alomar
Party New Progressive Popular Democratic
Alliance Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 905,066 881,181
Percentage 48.76% 47.47%
Results by municipality
Pierluisi:      40-50%      50-60%
Alomar:      40–50%      50–60%
Resident Commissioner before election

Pedro Pierluisi
New Progressive

Elected Resident Commissioner

Pedro Pierluisi
New Progressive

The gubernatorial elections were won by then-Senator Alejandro García Padilla from the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), who defeated incumbent governor Luis Fortuño from the New Progressive Party (PNP) in a close election. This election marked the second time in more than 40 years that six parties participated in the election, the first time in more than 60 years that a status referendum was held on the same day as the general election, and the first time in Puerto Rico that absentee ballots were issued for those who were out of the country on the day of the election.[2] As of 2024, this was the most recent time a member of the Popular Democratic Party won the governorship of Puerto Rico, and the last time a Republican did so.

In the elections for Resident Commissioner, incumbent Pedro Pierluisi of the PNP (who caucused with the Democratic Party and who was first elected in 2008, narrowly won reelection for a second term.[3] Pierluisi defeated his closest opponent, Rafael Cox Alomar of the PPD by almost 1.3%.[3]

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, the PNP and PPD, held primaries for several positions on March 18, 2012.

New Progressive Party (PNP)

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Main article: 2012 New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico primaries

The primaries were held on March 18, 2012, to determine several candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives, and others.

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Main article: 2012 Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico primaries

The primaries were held on March 18, 2012, to determine several candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives, and others.

Governor

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New Progressive Party

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Incumbent Governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuño, announced his candidacy for reelection in October 2011.[4] Former Secretary of Health, Iván González Cancel, challenged him to a primary, but the court ruled it out.[5][6]

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Current senator Alejandro García Padilla, announced his candidacy in March 2011.[7]

Puerto Rican Independence Party

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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.[8]

Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico

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Rogelio Figueroa was the candidate for governor for the PPR party.[9]

Movimiento Unión Soberanista

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The MUS had chosen Dr. Enrique Vázquez Quintana as candidate for governor.[10] 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.[11] Hernández was already a candidate for the Senate of Puerto Rico.

Working People's Party

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Professor Rafael Bernabe was announced as the gubernatorial candidate for the PPT in June 2012.[12]

Resident Commissioner

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The incumbent Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico Pedro Pierluisi, from the PNP, faced the following candidates for the position:

Senate

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Main article: 2012 Puerto Rico Senate election

At-large

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The ballot featured seventeen (17) candidates from six different parties and one independent candidate (bold denotes incumbent candidates)

District

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House of Representatives

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At-large

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The ballot featured sixteen (16) candidates from six different parties and one independent candidate (bold denotes incumbent candidates)

Campaign

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The campaign of the main opposing party, the 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 PNP.[13] The PNP, on the other hand, focused mostly on the lack of experience of the PPD candidate, Alejandro García Padilla.[14]

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,[15] while the Working People's Party (PPT) advocated for a government more attuned to the working class.[16]

Debates

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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.[17]

Results

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Governor

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In the morning of November 7, 2012, Fortuño conceded the election to Alejandro García Padilla, just as the last votes were being counted.[18] The margin of victory was 0.7% (or 11,049 votes) which would make it the second closest election in the island in the last 20 years. The candidates of the minority parties all received less than the required 3% to remain registered. Notably, Rogelio Figueroa (from the PPR) received only 0.4% of the vote after receiving 3% in the 2008 general elections.

CandidatePartyVotes%
Alejandro García PadillaPopular Democratic Party896,06048.04
Luis FortuñoNew Progressive Party884,77547.44
Juan DalmauPuerto Rican Independence Party47,3312.54
Rafael Bernabe RiefkohlWorking People's Party18,3120.98
Arturo HernándezMovimiento Unión Soberanista10,5230.56
Rogelio FigueroaPuerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party6,6680.36
Write-ins1,3750.07
Total1,865,044100.00
Valid votes1,865,04499.36
Invalid votes7,4880.40
Blank votes4,5230.24
Total votes1,877,055100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,402,94178.11
Source: Puerto Rico Election Archive

Resident commissioner

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The incumbent Pedro Pierluisi from the PNP defeated the candidate from the PPD, Rafael Cox Alomar. Pierluisi managed to be reelected, despite the fact that his ballot partner, Governor Fortuño, lost against the PPD candidate. This would be the second time in the last 10 years where the governor and the resident commissioner came from different parties. The first one was after the 2004 elections where PPD candidate Aníbal Acevedo Vilá narrowly won the election, while Fortuño (PNP) was elected resident commissioner.

CandidatePartyVotes%
Pedro PierluisiNew Progressive Party905,06648.76
Rafael Cox AlomarPopular Democratic Party881,18147.47
Juan Mercado NievesPuerto Rican Independence Party38,9412.10
Félix Córdova IturreguiWorking People's Party13,1200.71
María de Lourdes GuzmánMovimiento Unión Soberanista11,7640.63
Sadiasept Guillont JuarbePuerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party5,6470.30
Write-ins6260.03
Total1,856,345100.00
Valid votes1,856,34599.36
Invalid votes7,4880.40
Blank votes4,5230.24
Total votes1,868,356100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,402,94177.75
Source: Puerto Rico Election Archive

Senate

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The PPD won a majority of seats in the Senate of Puerto Rico, with a total of 18 out of 27. The PNP won a total of 8 seats, while the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) won one seat. The PPD won the majority after two terms of being a minority. The election of a senator from the PIP also comes after one term with no senator seated. The PPD won six of the Puerto Rico Senatorial districts. The PNP won only two districts, despite winning all eight during the previous elections.

PartyAt-largeDistrictTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Popular Democratic Party822,01146.0261,767,57349.441218
New Progressive Party788,42644.1441,677,55846.9248
Puerto Rican Independence Party138,1677.74197,6262.7301
Movimiento Unión Soberanista11,8420.66016,3840.4600
Working People's Party8,8910.5009,8590.2800
Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party3,2560.1804,6420.1300
Other parties2910.0201,1600.0300
Independents13,3270.7502430.0100
Total1,786,211100.00113,575,045100.001627
Valid votes1,786,21198.98
Invalid votes9,2930.51
Blank votes9,1930.51
Total votes1,804,697100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,402,94175.10
Source: Puerto Rico Election Archive

House of Representatives

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The PPD also won a majority of seats in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, with a total of 28 out of 51. The PNP won a total of 23 seats. The other minority parties won no seats. Like with the Senate, the PPD won the majority after two terms of being a minority.

PartyAt-largeDistrictTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Popular Democratic Party842,51346.936884,67748.922228
New Progressive Party826,32346.035853,57147.201823
Puerto Rican Independence Party87,7164.89048,6062.6900
Movimiento Unión Soberanista22,1961.2407,5600.4200
Working People's Party10,6560.5904,5060.2500
Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party4,5600.2508640.0500
Other parties4240.0208,5380.4700
Independents7390.0400
Total1,795,127100.00111,808,322100.004051
Valid votes1,795,12798.981,808,32298.99
Invalid votes9,2930.519,2930.51
Blank votes9,1930.519,1930.50
Total votes1,813,613100.001,826,808100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,402,94175.472,402,94176.02
Source: Puerto Rico Election Archive

Mayors

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The PPD won a majority of the mayoralty races in the island, with a total of 46 out of 78 municipalities. The New Progressive Party (PNP) won a total of 31. One of the most notable races featured PPD candidate Carmen Yulín Cruz defeating incumbent Jorge Santini (PNP) for the mayoralty of the capital city of San Juan after 12 years in the seat.

PartyMayoralties
Popular Democratic Party47
New Progressive Party31
Puerto Rican Independence Party0
Movimiento Unión Soberanista0
Working People's Party0
Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party0
Total78

References

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  1. ^ "Electoral Calendar - international elections world elections". Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  2. ^ Díaz, Carmen (June 24, 2012). "Elección para la historia". El Vocero. Archived from the original on July 6, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Puerto Rican Governor Luis Fortuno loses re-election". Voxxi. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  4. ^ "Luis Fortuño anuncia su candidatura a la reelección a gobernador de Puerto Rico en 2012". WKAQ 580. October 7, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "PIP presents campaign staff and government program". Puerto Rico Daily Sun. January 30, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Rogelio Figueroa lanza su campaña como candidato a la gobernación". Archived from the original on February 21, 2013.
  10. ^ "MUS ratifuca sus candidatos para las elecciones generales". RedBetances.
  11. ^ "MUS elige a Arturo Hernández como candidato a gobernador". El Vocero. August 12, 2012. Archived from the original on January 8, 2013.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "El Gran Debate acapara la teleaudiencia". El Nuevo Día. Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  18. ^ "Luis Fortuño acepta su derrota". El Nuevo Día. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
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