The 2012 New Progressive Party primaries were the
primary elections by which voters of the
New Progressive Party (PNP) chose its nominees for various political offices of Puerto Rico for the
2012 general elections. They were held on March 18, 2012 and coincided with the
Republican Party primaries in the island.
Background
At the time of the primaries, the New Progressive Party had already chosen current
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Luis Fortuño
Luis Guillermo Fortuño Burset (born 31 October 1960) is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the governor of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States, from 2009 to 2013.
Fortuño served as the first secretary of econom ...
, as their gubernatorial candidate for reelection. He would be joined again in the ballot by current
Resident Commissioner
Resident commissioner was or is an official title of several different types of commissioners, who were or are representatives of any level of government. Historically, they were appointed by the British Crown in overseas protectorates (such ...
Pedro Pierluisi
Pedro Rafael Pierluisi Urrutia (born April 26, 1959) is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer currently serving as governor of Puerto Rico. He has previously served as Secretary of Justice, Resident Commissioner, acting
Secretary of State, i ...
. There was the possibility for a primary between Fortuño and aspiring candidate
Iván González Cancel
Iván F. González Cancel is a cardiovascular and heart transplant surgeon credited for having performed the first heart transplant surgery in Puerto Rico.
Early life
He was born in 1960 in municipality of Utuado, Puerto Rico. He lived in Utua ...
, but he wasn't certified by the Commission. González appealed the decision in the courts, but the case was still pending at the time of the primaries.
In the
Senate, there were 14 sitting senators looking to retain their election spots. In the
House, there were around 6 sitting at-large representatives as well. Also, some returning candidates from previous years, like
Carlos Díaz, and other former officeholders, like María Milagros Charbonier and Zoé Laboy, were entering the political race. Current representative
Liza M. Fernández was running for a Senate seat this time, while her husband, Angel Pérez, was running for a representative seat in District 6.
Sitting representative
Cristóbal Colón Ruíz was also looking to gain an election spot to be mayor of
Patillas, against sitting mayor Benjamín Cintrón. There were fifteen sitting mayor from the PNP that were challenged in primaries.
Also, the amount of primaries per municipality and districts were few, when compared to previous years. As a result, the primaries were expected to be of low participation among the party members.
Candidates
Senate
At-large
*
Lucy Arce
Luz Z. "Lucy" Arce Ferrer is a Puerto Rican politician. She is currently serving as a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 1996.
Early years and studies
Lucy Arce was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. She completed her bachelor's degree ...
* Héctor Morales
*
Margarita Nolasco
*
Itzamar Peña
*
Kimmey Raschke
Kimmey Raschke Martínez (born January 17, 1974, in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a politician and Senator. She was a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico from 2009 to 2012.
Early years and studies
Kimmey Raschke was born on January 17, 1974, in San J ...
*
Thomas Rivera Schatz
Thomas Rivera Schatz (born June 10, 1966) is a Puerto Rican politician, legal advisor, attorney, and former prosecutor, who was the fourteenth and sixteenth President of the Senate of Puerto Rico. He is affiliated with New Progressive Party of ...
*
Melinda Romero
Melinda Kathleen Romero Donnelly (born October 8, 1971) is a Puerto Rican politician, and former senator and Representative for the New Progressive Party (PNP). She is the youngest daughter of former Governor of Puerto Rico Carlos Romero Barcel ...
*
Larry Seilhamer
Larry is a masculine given name in English, derived from Lawrence or Laurence. It can be a shortened form of those names.
Larry may refer to the following:
People Arts and entertainment
* Larry D. Alexander, American artist/writer
*Larry Boone ...
District
The New Progressive Party held primaries on 5 of the
8 senatorial districts.
= San Juan
=
* Eddie Charbonier
*
Liza M. Fernández
*
Zoé Laboy
Zoé Laboy Alvarado (born September 17, 1964) is an American attorney and public servant. Laboy served as Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 1997 to 2000. in 2016 she was elected to become a senator with the Ne ...
=
Arecibo
Arecibo (; ) is a city and municipality on the northern coast of Puerto Rico, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, located north of Utuado and Ciales; east of Hatillo; and west of Barceloneta and Florida. It is about west of San Juan, th ...
=
* Edgardo "Eggie" Centeno
*
José Emilio González Velázquez
José Emilio González Velázquez is a Puerto Rican politician and Senator. He has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2004.
Early years and studies
José Emilio González graduated from the University of Puerto Rico in 1974 with a ...
* Juan Miguel Guzmán
*
Angel Martínez Santiago
*
José "Joito" Pérez
* Elaine "Tuti" Soler
= Mayagüez-Aguadilla
=
* Frank Hernández
*
Luis Daniel Muñiz Cortes
* Alfredo Ocasio
*
Evelyn Vázquez
* Benjamín "Bengie" Velázquez
= Guayama
=
* Osvaldo Colón Reyes
* William "Willie" Jiménez
* Miguelito Rodríguez
* Marangely Sáez
*
Carlos J. Torres Torres
=
Humacao
Humacao () is a city and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the eastern coast of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Naguabo; east of Las Piedras; and west of Vieques Passage. Humacao is spread over 12 barrios and Humacao Pueblo (the ...
=
* Juan Bautista
*
José R. Díaz Hernández
* Alexis Quiñones
*
Luz M. Santiago González
House of Representatives
At-large
*Néstor Alonso
*
José Aponte
*
José Chico
*
Jenniffer González
*Jorge Irizarry
*
José E. Meléndez Ortíz
*
María Milagros Charbonier
María Milagros Charbonier Laureano (born November 24, 1963) is a Puerto Rican lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from 2013 to 2020. She was elected to the Puerto Rico House of Representatives ...
*Yumary Peña
*
Lourdes Ramos
Lourdes (, also , ; oc, Lorda ) is a market town situated in the Pyrenees. It is part of the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France. Prior to the mid-19th century, the town was best known for the Châtea ...
*
José "Pichy" Torres Zamora
José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced differently in each language: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ).
In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , is an old vernacu ...
District
The New Progressive Party held primaries on 18 of the
40 representative districts.
=District 4
=
*
Carlos Díaz
*
Víctor Parés
=District 6
=
*
Angel Pérez Otero
Ángel Pérez Otero (born September 18, 1970) is a Puerto Rican politician, and former mayor of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He was a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from 2005 to 2012.
Pérez was first elected to the House of Repre ...
*
Antonio "Tony" Soto
=District 11
=
* José "Cano" Montes
*
María Vega Pagán
=District 14
=
*
Ricardo Llerandi
*
Paula Rodríguez Homs
=District 16
=
*
Eric Alfaro Calero
* Armando Nieves
=District 18
=
*
David Bonilla Cortés
*
Angel Muñoz
* Alejandro Torres Babilonia
=District 19
=
* Rafael Beauchamp
* Manuel Feliciano
* Orlando "Pochy" Orta
* Juan Alberto Zapata
=District 21
=
* Noel Morales, Jr.
* Ramoncito Ramos
=District 22
=
* Exel López
* Luis Maldonado
*
Waldemar Quiles
=District 25
=
* Roberto González Rosa
* Luis Mercado Fraticelli
* Luis Armando Rivera
=District 26
=
*
Urayoán Hernández
* José Luis Jiménez
=District 29
=
* Carlos Junior Aponte
* Adalberto Reyes
=District 31
=
* John Corales
* Roberto López
=District 32
=
* José R. Camino
* Orlando Rivera
* Rafael Uceta
=District 34
=
* Félix "Johnny" Figueroa
* José Iván Medina
* Pickie Díaz
=District 35
=
* Ciary Pérez
* Reinaldo Vargas
=District 38
=
*
Eric Correa
* Israel Matos Vázquez
=District 40
=
* Angel Camacho
*
Elizabeth Casado
Mayors
The New Progressive Party held primaries in 24 of 78 municipalities.
Aguada
*
Luis "Berty" Echevarría
* Manuel Santiago
Arecibo
Arecibo (; ) is a city and municipality on the northern coast of Puerto Rico, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, located north of Utuado and Ciales; east of Hatillo; and west of Barceloneta and Florida. It is about west of San Juan, th ...
*
Carlos Molina
*
Lemuel Soto
Cabo Rojo
*
Perza Rodríguez
* José "Chiquin" Morales
Cayey
Cayey (), officially Cayey de Muesas, is a mountain town and municipality in central Puerto Rico located on the Sierra de Cayey within the Central Mountain range, north of Salinas and Guayama; south of Cidra and Caguas; east of Aibonito and Sal ...
* Wilson Colón
* Omar Vázquez
Ceiba
''Ceiba'' is a genus of trees in the family Malvaceae, native to tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas (from Mexico and the Caribbean to N Argentina) and tropical West Africa. Some species can grow to tall or more, with a straight, la ...
*
Pedro Colón Osorio
* Angelo Cruz
Cidra
* Javier Carrasquillo
*
Pedro "Banchy" Cintrón
Culebra
* Emerito Amaro
*
Ricardo López
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
* Julio "Kosovo" Carrión
* José Gerena Polanco
*
Aarón Pargas
Guayanilla
* Janice González
*
Julissa Nolasco
Hormigueros
* Augustine "Chito" Olivencia
* José "Joe" Rodríguez
Humacao
Humacao () is a city and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the eastern coast of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Naguabo; east of Las Piedras; and west of Vieques Passage. Humacao is spread over 12 barrios and Humacao Pueblo (the ...
* Julio César López
* Lucrecia Ortíz
Isabela
* Gabriel Machado
* Juvencio "Papo" Méndez
* José Sotomayor
Jayuya
Jayuya (, ) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the mountainous center region of the island, north of Ponce; east of Utuado; and west of Ciales. Jayuya is spread over 10 barrios and Jayuya Pueblo (the downtown and administra ...
* Roberto Pagán Crespí
* Luis Ernesto Torres
Loíza
* Ferdín Carrasquillo
*
Eddie Manso
Luquillo
Luquillo () is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northeast coast, northwest of Fajardo; and east of Rio Grande. Luquillo is spread over 5 barrios and Luquillo Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the ci ...
* Eva Benabe Torrens
*
José "Nelo" González
* David Pizarro Rivera
Manatí
*
Juan Aubín Cruz Manzano
* José Sánchez
Naguabo
* Noé Marcano
*
Maritza Meléndez
Patillas
*
Benjamín Cintrón
*
Cristóbal Colón Ruíz
Rincón
Salinas
* Basilio "Cholito" Baerga
*
Carlos Rodríguez Mateo
San Sebastián
* Joselly González
*
Javier Jiménez
Toa Alta
*
Luis "Jumbo" Collazo
* Luis Visaldén
Utuado
* Héctor "Tito" Camacho
* Doris Nilda González
* Juan Lamboy
* José "Junior" Pagán
*
Jorgito Pérez
Vega Baja
Vega Baja (, ) is a town and municipality located on the coast of north central Puerto Rico. It is north of Morovis, east of Manatí, and west of Vega Alta. Vega Baja is spread over 13 barrios. The population of the municipality was 54,414 at ...
* José Galán
*
Iván Hernández González
Results
Senate
At-large
District
= San Juan
=
=
Arecibo
Arecibo (; ) is a city and municipality on the northern coast of Puerto Rico, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, located north of Utuado and Ciales; east of Hatillo; and west of Barceloneta and Florida. It is about west of San Juan, th ...
=
= Mayagüez-Aguadilla
=
= Guayama
=
=
Humacao
Humacao () is a city and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the eastern coast of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Naguabo; east of Las Piedras; and west of Vieques Passage. Humacao is spread over 12 barrios and Humacao Pueblo (the ...
=
House of Representatives
At-large
District
Aftermath
Allegations of fraud
On the same day of the primaries, PPD Electoral Commissioner
Eder Ortíz, claimed he had evidence of fraud from the PNP primaries.
Sitting senators losing
Senators
Evelyn Vázquez (
District IV) and
José Emilio González
Josemilio González (1918–1990) was a Puerto Rican literary critic and editor.
He Went to the University of Puerto Rico, where he graduated in Liberal Arts, with specializations in Spanish, French and Philosophy. in 1940, Earned his Master's De ...
(
District III) had their candidatures at risk. Vázquez win over Benjamín Velázquez was close and could go to a recount, while José Emilio González claimed there were irregularities that could have led to his loss.
Representative District 6
There was a lot of controversy surrounding the primaries for the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
District 6. Both candidates,
Angel Pérez and
Antonio Soto, have exchanged leads and have been announced as winners after different vote counts. Pérez, who had initially appeared as the loser, claimed there was fraud in the election, and accused
Guaynabo
Guaynabo (, ) is a city, suburb of San Juan and municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas, south of Cataño, east of Bayamón, and west of San Juan. Guaynabo is spr ...
mayor,
Héctor O'Neill, of orchestrating it. When Pérez was announced as the real winner, O'Neill, who supported Pagán's rival, went into a rant on a radio interview against his own party.
Incumbent mayors losses
Several sitting mayors from the PNP lost their candidacies for the elections. Some of them were Benjamín Cintrón (from
Patillas), Lemuel Soto (
Arecibo
Arecibo (; ) is a city and municipality on the northern coast of Puerto Rico, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, located north of Utuado and Ciales; east of Hatillo; and west of Barceloneta and Florida. It is about west of San Juan, th ...
), and Maritza Meléndez (
Naguabo).
Se cuelgan varios incumbentes penepés en las primarias
on Telemundo Puerto Rico (March 19, 2012)
See also
*Popular Democratic Party primaries, 2012
The 2012 Popular Democratic Party primaries were the primary elections by which voters of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) chose its nominees for various political offices of Puerto Rico for the 2012 general elections. They were held on Marc ...
References
External links
Comisión Estatal de Elecciones
{{Puerto Rico political parties primaries
Primary elections in Puerto Rico
2012 Puerto Rico elections
New Progressive Party (Puerto Rico)