2012 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election

2012 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election
	Results by municipality; Padilla: 40-50% 50-60% ; Fortuño: 40–50% 50–60%
Governor before election; Luis Fortuño; New Progressive	Elected Governor ; Alejandro Garcia Padilla; Popular Democratic

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

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]

Popular Democratic Party[]

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 is 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	%	±%
	Popular Democratic	Alejandro García Padilla	896,060	47.73%	+6.50%
	New Progressive	Luis Fortuño	884,775	47.13%	-5.68%
	Puerto Rican Independence	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
	Popular Democratic gain from New Progressive
	Democratic gain from Republican

References[]

^ "Luis Fortuño acepta su derrota". El Nuevo Día. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
^ "Luis Fortuño anuncia su candidatura a la reelección a gobernador de Puerto Rico en 2012". WKAQ 580. October 7, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
^ 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.
^ Cordero, Gerardo (September 5, 2012). "Sigue la espera por decisión judicial el médico Iván González Cancel". El Nuevo Día.
^ Gómez, Antonio (March 7, 2011). "Alejandro García Padilla se tira de pecho". Primera Hora. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
^ "PIP presents campaign staff and government program". Puerto Rico Daily Sun. January 30, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
^ "Rogelio Figueroa lanza su campaña como candidato a la gobernación". Archived from the original on 2013-02-21.
^ "MUS ratifuca sus candidatos para las elecciones generales". RedBetances.
^ "MUS elige a Arturo Hernández como candidato a gobernador". El Vocero. August 12, 2012. Archived from the original on January 8, 2013.
^ Rivera, Ivelisse (June 16, 2012). "Rafael Bernabe es el candidato a la gobernación por el PPT".
^ "Fortuño no ha cumplido 20 de 24 promesas sobre criminalidad". NotiCel. 2012-10-06.
^ Cordero, Gerardo and Rebecca Banuchi (October 31, 2012). "Dúo PNP ataca récord legislativo de García Padilla". El Nuevo Día.
^ Rodríguez, Israel (October 27, 2012). "Un mensaje claro y más contacto". El Nuevo Día.
^ Rivera, Aurora (November 4, 2012). "Promete el PPT que seguirá en pie de lucha". El Nuevo Día.
^ "El Gran Debate acapara la teleaudiencia". El Nuevo Día.

[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.

[primerahora-2011-03-07-5] Gómez, Antonio (March 7, 2011). "Alejandro García Padilla se tira de pecho". Primera Hora. Retrieved April 5, 2011.

[dailysun-2012-01-30-6] "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 2013-02-21.

[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".

[11] "Fortuño no ha cumplido 20 de 24 promesas sobre criminalidad". NotiCel. 2012-10-06.

[12] Cordero, Gerardo and Rebecca Banuchi (October 31, 2012). "Dúo PNP ataca récord legislativo de García Padilla". El Nuevo Día.

[13] Rodríguez, Israel (October 27, 2012). "Un mensaje claro y más contacto". El Nuevo Día.

[14] Rivera, Aurora (November 4, 2012). "Promete el PPT que seguirá en pie de lucha". El Nuevo Día.

[15] "El Gran Debate acapara la teleaudiencia". El Nuevo Día.

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