The 2008 Puerto Rican general elections were held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 to elect the officials of the Government of Puerto Rico that would serve for the next four years, most notably the

Governor of Puerto Rico The governor of Puerto Rico ( es, gobernador de Puerto Rico) is the head of government of the Commonwealth (U.S. insular area), Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and commander-in-chief of the Puerto Rico National Guard. The governor has a duty ...

. The election was won by incumbent

Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico The resident commissioner of Puerto Rico () is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives elected by the voters of the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico every four years, the only member of the House of Representatives ...

Luis Fortuño (from the New Progressive Party), who defeated the incumbent Governor,

Aníbal Acevedo Vilá Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá (born 13 February 1962) is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer. He served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus (LL.M. 1987) and a graduate of the University of Puer ...

(from the Popular Democratic Party). Fortuño received 1,025,965 votes, and Acevedo Vilá 801,071. Also, most of the other positions were won by the candidates of the New Progressive Party, who ended up with a majority of seats in the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

and the House of Representatives. The elections occurred after one term of what was called "shared government", as a result of the

2004 elections 4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures. In mathematics Four is the smallest c ...

. 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 Global economic crisis may refer to: *Economic events of the 21st Century: **Financial crisis of 2007–2008 ** Great Recession **The 2020 stock market crash *A global recession *Earlier global economic events, such as: **The Great Depression, a glo ...

, paved the campaign for this elections. Also, Acevedo Vilá was facing criminal accusations at the time. Fortuño was sworn in as

on January 2, 2009.

Significance

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.

Nominations

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 Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...

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

New Progressive Party (PNP)

The primaries were held on March 9, 2008. In it, Fortuño comfortably defeated Rosselló to win the spot for Governor at the 2008 elections. Also, Pedro Pierluisi defeated

Charlie Rodríguez Charles Anthony Rodríguez-Colón (born August 26, 1954) is a New York City-born Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the New Progressive Party (NPP). He served as the eleventh president of the Senate of Puerto Rico from 1997 until 2000. E ...

and

Miriam Ramírez de Ferrer Miriam ( he, מִרְיָם ''Mīryām'', lit. 'Rebellion') is described in the Hebrew Bible as the daughter of Amram and Jochebed, and the older sister of Moses and Aaron. She was a prophetess and first appears in the Book of Exodus. The ...

with 60% of the votes to win the spot for Resident Commissioner.

Popular Democratic Party (PPD)

The primaries were held on March 9, 2008 to determine several candidates for the

, House of Representatives, and others. Among the most notable outcomes, former Secretary of Consumer Affairs Alejandro García Padilla received the most votes for the Senate, despite being his first time in an election. Also, in the primaries for Mayor of Ponce, incumbent

Francisco Zayas Seijo Francisco R. Zayas Seijo, also known as Ico (born 4 October 1951), is a former member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives and mayor of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. During his 4-year mayoral term, Zayas Seijo established the Mariana ...

narrowly beat Carlos Jirau Vélez, for less than 50 votes.Primarias 2008: Escrutinio General - Alcaldes
on CEEPUR

Final candidates

Governor

After the primaries, the official candidates for

were set. The incumbent governor,

, Popular Democratic Party (PPD) faced the following candidates for the Governorship: * Luis Fortuño,

, New Progressive Party (PNP) *

Edwin Irizarry Mora Edwin Irizarry Mora (born March 8, 1961 in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico) is an economist, professor and pro-independence leader in Puerto Rico. Life He was the Puerto Rican Independence Party candidate for governor of the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto ...

, Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) * Rogelio Figueroa, Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party (PPPR)

Resident Commissioner

The United States House of Representatives elections in Puerto Rico, 2008 was won by Pedro Pierluisi, New Progressive Party (PNP). He ran against: * Jessica Martínez Birriel, Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) *

Alfredo Salazar Alfredo Salazar (born in San Juan Puerto Rico) is an economist by education and a banker by profession. He is currently retired. He entered into public service and ran for an elected position affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto ...

, Popular Democratic Party (PPD) * Carlos Alberto Velazquez Lopez, Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party (PPR)

Election results

Governor

Resident Commissioner

Senate of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico House of Representatives

Mayoral

References

# "2008 General Elections Results"
State Commission of Elections of Puerto Rico
. San Juan, Puerto Rico. November 4, 2008.

External links

* ttp://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/04/28/Puerto_Rico_approves_Acevedo_candidacy/UPI-31451209439682/ UPI: Puerto Rico approves Acevedo candidacy
New York Daily News: Luis Fortuño wins pro-statehood primary in Puerto Rico
{{USGovElections * Puerto Rico