The 2012 New Progressive Party primaries were the
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 ...
s 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, 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. 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
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 ...
, there were 14 sitting senators looking to retain their election spots. In the
House
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
, 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
Patillas (, ) is a beach town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the southeastern coast, south of San Lorenzo; west of Yabucoa and Maunabo; and east of Guayama and Arroyo. It is spread over 15 barrios and Patillas Pueblo (the downtown a ...
, 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
* Héctor Morales
*
Margarita Nolasco
Margarita Nolasco Santiago is a Puerto Rican politician, senator, and former Mayor of Coamo. She has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2004.
Early years and studies
Margarita Nolasco obtained her bachelor's degree from the Pontif ...
*
Itzamar Peña
*
Kimmey Raschke
*
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
*
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 San Juan, Spanish for Saint John, may refer to:
Places Argentina
* San Juan Province, Argentina
* San Juan, Argentina, the capital of that province
* San Juan, Salta, a village in Iruya, Salta Province
* San Juan (Buenos Aires Underground), ...
=
* 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 Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 1997 to 2000. ...
= Arecibo
=
* Edgardo "Eggie" Centeno
*
José Emilio González Velázquez
* Juan Miguel Guzmán
*
Angel Martínez Santiago
In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God.
Abrahamic religions often depict angels as wikt:benevolent, benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Oth ...
*
José "Joito" Pérez
* Elaine "Tuti" Soler
= Mayagüez-Aguadilla
=
* Frank Hernández
*
Luis Daniel Muñiz Cortes
* Alfredo Ocasio
*
Evelyn Vázquez
* Benjamín "Bengie" Velázquez
=
Guayama
Guayama (, ), officially the Autonomous Municipality of Guayama ( es, Municipio Autónomo de Guayama) is a city and municipality on the Caribbean coast of Puerto Rico. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 36,614. It is the c ...
=
* Osvaldo Colón Reyes
* William "Willie" Jiménez
* Miguelito Rodríguez
* Marangely Sáez
*
Carlos J. Torres Torres
= Humacao
=
* Juan Bautista
*
José R. Díaz Hernández
* Alexis Quiñones
*
Luz M. Santiago González
Luz M. Santiago González (born November 8, 1957, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican politician and Senator. Santiago has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2008.
Early years and studies
Luz M. Santiago González was born o ...
House of Representatives
At-large
*Néstor Alonso
*
José Aponte
*
José Chico
*
Jenniffer González
Jenniffer Aydin González Colón (born August 5, 1976) is a Puerto Rican politician who serves as the 20th Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. González has served in leadership positions in the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (PNP) and in ...
*Jorge Irizarry
*
José E. Meléndez Ortíz
*
María Milagros Charbonier
*Yumary Peña
*
Lourdes Ramos
*
José "Pichy" Torres Zamora
District
The New Progressive Party held primaries on 18 of the
40 representative districts.
=District 4
=
*
Carlos Díaz
*
Víctor Parés
Víctor L. Parés Otero (born July 18) is a Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico, New Progressive Party (NPP). He replaced Liza Fernández as a member of the Puerto Rico House of Re ...
=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
Ricardo J. Llerandi Cruz is a Puerto Rican politician who served as Chief of Staff of Puerto Rico in 2019. Llerandi is affiliated with the New Progressive Party (PNP). He was elected to the Puerto Rico House of Representatives in 2012 to repres ...
*
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
Waldemar Quiles Rodríguez (born December 29, 1940) is a Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the New Progressive Party (PNP). He has been a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives for two separate instances (1993-2005, 2009–201 ...
=District 25
=
* Roberto González Rosa
* Luis Mercado Fraticelli
* Luis Armando Rivera
=District 26
=
*
Urayoán Hernández
Urayoán Hernández Alvarado is a Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the New Progressive Party (PNP). He was elected to the 29th House of Representatives of Puerto Rico in the 2012 Puerto Rican general election to represent District 26. H ...
* 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
Eric Correa Rivera (born April 5, 1975) is a Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the New Progressive Party (PNP). Previously he has served as a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives representing District 38.
Early years and st ...
* 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
*
Carlos Molina
*
Lemuel Soto
Lemuel Soto Santiago is a Puerto Rican politician and former mayor of 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 H ...
Cabo Rojo
*
Perza Rodríguez
* José "Chiquin" Morales
Cayey
* Wilson Colón
* Omar Vázquez
Ceiba
*
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
Aaron Pargas Ojeda is a Puerto Rican politician and former mayor of 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, ...
Guayanilla
Guayanilla (, ) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located on the southern coast of the island, bordering the Caribbean Sea, south of Adjuntas, east of Yauco; and west of Peñuelas and about west of Ponce. Guayanilla is spread over 16 ...
* Janice González
*
Julissa Nolasco
Hormigueros
Hormigueros (, ) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the western region of the island, northeast of Cabo Rojo; northwest of San Germán; and south of Mayagüez. Hormigueros is spread over 5 barrios and Hormigueros Pueblo (th ...
* Augustine "Chito" Olivencia
* José "Joe" Rodríguez
Humacao
* Julio César López
* Lucrecia Ortíz
Isabela
* Gabriel Machado
* Juvencio "Papo" Méndez
* José Sotomayor
Jayuya
* Roberto Pagán Crespí
* Luis Ernesto Torres
Loíza
* Ferdín Carrasquillo
*
Eddie Manso
Eddie Manso Fuentes is a Puerto Rican politician and the former mayor of Loíza. Manso is affiliated with the New Progressive Party (PNP) and he served as mayor from 2005 to 2017. Has a degree in Business Administration and Management from Uni ...
Luquillo
* Eva Benabe Torrens
*
José "Nelo" González
* David Pizarro Rivera
Manatí
*
Juan Aubín Cruz Manzano
Juan Aubín "Bín" Cruz Manzano (born June 11, 1948) is a Puerto Rican politician and former mayor of Manatí. He served as mayor for 40 years, making him one of the longest tenured mayors in Puerto Rico.
Biography
Juan Aubín Cruz Manzano was ...
* José Sánchez
Naguabo
* Noé Marcano
*
Maritza Meléndez
Patillas
Patillas (, ) is a beach town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the southeastern coast, south of San Lorenzo; west of Yabucoa and Maunabo; and east of Guayama and Arroyo. It is spread over 15 barrios and Patillas Pueblo (the downtown a ...
*
Benjamín Cintrón
*
Cristóbal Colón Ruíz
Rincón
Salinas
* Basilio "Cholito" Baerga
*
Carlos Rodríguez Mateo
San Sebastián
San Sebastian, officially known as Donostia–San Sebastián (names in both local languages: ''Donostia'' () and ''San Sebastián'' ()) is a city and Municipalities of Spain, municipality located in the Basque Country (autonomous community), B ...
* Joselly González
*
Javier Jiménez
Toa Alta
Toa Alta () is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northern coast of the island, north of Naranjito; south of Dorado and Toa Baja; east of Vega Alta and Corozal; and west of Bayamón. Toa Alta is spread over eight barrios an ...
*
Luis "Jumbo" Collazo
* Luis Visaldén
Utuado
Utuado () is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central mountainous region of the island known as the '' Cordillera Central''. It is located north of Adjuntas and Ponce; south of Hatillo and Arecibo; east of Lares; and west ...
* 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 t ...
* José Galán
*
Iván Hernández González
Iván Hernández González is a Puerto Rican politician and former mayor of Vega Baja. Hernández is affiliated with the New Progressive Party (PNP) and served as mayor from 2011 to 2013.
Hernández served as President of the Municipal Legisl ...
Results
Senate
At-large
District
=
San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John, may refer to:
Places Argentina
* San Juan Province, Argentina
* San Juan, Argentina, the capital of that province
* San Juan, Salta, a village in Iruya, Salta Province
* San Juan (Buenos Aires Underground), ...
=
= Arecibo
=
= Mayagüez-Aguadilla
=
=
Guayama
Guayama (, ), officially the Autonomous Municipality of Guayama ( es, Municipio Autónomo de Guayama) is a city and municipality on the Caribbean coast of Puerto Rico. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 36,614. It is the c ...
=
= Humacao
=
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 (
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 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
Héctor O'Neill García (born June 20, 1945) is a Puerto Rican politician. He was mayor of his hometown of Guaynabo. O'Neill is affiliated with the New Progressive Party (PNP) and has also served as a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico.
Early ...
, 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
Patillas (, ) is a beach town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the southeastern coast, south of San Lorenzo; west of Yabucoa and Maunabo; and east of Guayama and Arroyo. It is spread over 15 barrios and Patillas Pueblo (the downtown a ...
), Lemuel Soto (
Arecibo), and Maritza Meléndez (
Naguabo).
Se cuelgan varios incumbentes penepés en las primarias
on Telemundo Puerto Rico Telemundo Puerto Rico may refer to:
* Telemundo Puerto Rico (TV channel)
* WKAQ-TV
WKAQ-TV (channel 2) is a television station in San Juan, Puerto Rico, airing programming from the Telemundo and NBC networks. It is Owned-and-operated station, ...
(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 March ...
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)