2008 New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico primaries

Background

Pedro Rosselló had come from a defeat against Aníbal Acevedo Vilá at the 2004 elections. Despite that, he managed to gain a seat in the Senate. After an unsuccessful power struggle within the Senate to gain the presidency of the body, it was speculated that Rosselló would make another attempt at being elected Governor for the 2008 elections.

The power struggle had caused a division within the party, with the faction that supported Senate President Kenneth McClintock (called the "Auténticos") being expelled from the party during the previous year. Although the Supreme Court allowed them to run in the PNP primaries, Pedro Rosselló, then President of the party, still vouched for a "vote of punishment" against the senators, which he called "traitors".

Candidates

Governor

• Luis Fortuño, incumbent Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
• Pedro Rosselló, incumbent Senator and former Governor of Puerto Rico

Resident Commissioner

• Pedro Pierluisi, former Secretary of Justice
• Charlie Rodríguez, former President of the Senate of Puerto Rico
• Miriam Ramírez de Ferrer, former Senator

File:Pierluisi.jpeg |Pedro Pierluisi File:SS Charlie Rodriguez.jpg|Charlie Rodríguez File:No image.svg|Miriam Ramírez de Ferrer

Senate

At-large

• Wanda Aponte
• Lucy Arce
• Luis Batista Salas
• Cristóbal Berríos
• Norma Burgos
• Luis Oscar Casillas
• Jorge de Castro Font
• Manuel de Jesús
• José Garriga Picó
• Roger Iglesias
• Tito Maldonado
• Roberto Carlos Mejill
• Henry Neumann
• Margarita Nolasco
• Reynaldo Paniagua
• Itzamar Peña
• Abid Quiñones
• Oreste Ramos
• Santos Ramos Lugo
• Thomas Rivera Schatz
• Orlando José Rivera Sepúlveda
• Luz M. "Tuty" Silva
• William Villafañe

District

The New Progressive Party held primaries on all 8 of the senatorial districts.

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district I|San Juan]]

• Roberto Arango
• Carlos Díaz
• Omar Miranda Torres
• Edward Moreno
• Kimmey Raschke

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district II|Bayamón]]

• Felix H. Delgado
• Héctor "Cano" O'Neill
• Pedro Orraca
• Migdalia Padilla
• Carmelo Ríos Santiago
• Edwin Rivera
• Noel Toro

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district III|Arecibo]]

• José Emilio González Velázquez
• Anthony López
• Johnny Maldonado
• Víctor "Buhito" Marrero
• Angel Martínez Santiago
• Roger Owens
• Gabriel Félix Rivera
• Alexis Valle

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district IV|Mayagüez-Aguadilla]]

• Luis Daniel Muñiz Cortes
• Michael Nazario
• Carlos Pagán
• Jorge Rodríguez Feliciano
• Evelyn Vázquez

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district V|Ponce]]

• María Alvarado
• Luis A. Berdiel Rivera
• Juan Luis "Cuto" Colón
• Benny A. Morales
• Ramoncito Ramos
• Larry Seilhamer
• Luinel Torres Acosta

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district VI|Guayama]]

• Osvaldo Colón Reyes
• Paco Fontánez
• Miguelito Martínez
• "Vi" Negrón
• Osvaldo Ortolaza Figueroa
• Luisito Pagán
• Robert Santiago
• Antonio Soto Díaz
• Carlos J. Torres Torres

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district VII|Humacao]]

• Juan B.
• José R. Díaz Hernández
• Francisco "Paco" Pereira
• Luz M. Santiago González
• Rafi Uceta

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district VIII|Carolina]]

• Haydee Calderón Muñoz
• Héctor Martínez Maldonado
• Rosemary O'Connell
• Pablo Ramos
• Lornna Soto
• Nayda Venegas

House of Representatives

At-large

• José Aponte
• José Chico
• Angel Cortés
• Italo Costa Corsi
• Rolando Crespo
• Jenniffer González
• Jaime Irizarry
• Julio Lebrón Lamboy
• Aixa Martinó
• Nicolás Muñoz
• Lourdes Ramos
• Iris Miriam Ruíz
• Soraya
• José "Pichy" Torres Zamora
• Félix Vega Fournier

District

The Popular Democratic Party held primaries on 30 of the 40 representative districts.

District 1

• Gloria Escudero
• Mario González La Fuente
• José "Nuno" López

District 4

• Liza Fernández
• Nelson A. Rivera

District 5

• Luisito Fuentes
• Jorge Navarro Suárez

District 6

• Javier Capestany Figueroa
• Angel Pérez Otero

District 8

• Toñito Silva
• Mario Tevenal

District 9

• Pito Marrero
• Angel "Gary" Rodríguez
• Rafy Rodríguez
• Juan "Papo" Soto

District 10

• Bernardo Márquez
• Pedro Julio Santiago
• Víctor Soto, Jr.

District 11

• Frank Acha
• Víctor "Pío" Concepción
• Miguel Angel Figueroa
• Jean P. Rubio
• María Vega Pagán

District 14

• Charlie Ayala
• Wilson Pantoja
• Gustavo Rodríguez
• Paula Rodríguez Homs
• Yamill

District 15

• Arnaldo Jiménez Valle
• Efraín Concepción
• Rey Escoriaza
• Nino Román

District 16

• Elisa Juarbe Beníquez
• Iván Rodríguez
• Miguel Trabal

District 17

• Rafael Lugo Hernández
• José L. Rivera Guerra
• Junior Robledo
• William

District 18

• David Bonilla Cortés
• Angel Muñoz

District 20

• Norman Ramírez Rivera
• Lucy Rivera

District 21

• Noel Morales, Jr.
• Rey

District 22

• Héctor Luis "Tito" Camacho
• Jorge Collazo
• Waldemar Quiles

District 23

• Luis Edgardo Díaz
• Julissa Nolasco
• Gaddier Oliveras
• Hernán Santiago

District 24

• John Giménez
• Luis "Tato" León

District 26

• Emilio
• José Luis Jiménez
• Freddy Santiago

District 28

• Carmen Gloria Hernández
• Rafael Rivera Ortega
• Jorge Santini

District 31

• Edgar Acevedo
• Junior Aponte
• Roberto López
• Jorge L. Reyes

District 32

• José R. Camino
• Shirley Ann Casillas
• Magal González

District 33

• Willy Gómez
• Angel R. Peña, Jr.
• Amparo Rodríguez
• Raúl Rodríguez

District 34

• Cristóbal Colón
• Pickie Díaz
• Lorenzo Valcárcel, Jr.

District 35

• Julio César
• Noé Marcano

District 36

• Johnny Méndez
• Augusto Sánchez

District 37

• Angel Bulerín
• William Cantres Nieves
• Normis Quintero

District 38

• Eric Correa
• Joel Cruz Hiraldo
• Wilfredo Pérez Torres
• Raymond Sánchez

District 39

• Sergio Esteves
• Esther
• César Valentín

District 40

• Elizabeth Casado
• Francisco, Jr.

Mayors

The New Progressive Party held primaries in 34 of 78 municipalities.

[[Aguada, Puerto Rico|Aguada]]

• "Berty" Echevarría
• Manuel Santiago
• Lorenzo Vale, Jr.

[[Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico|Aguas Buenas]]

• Miguel
• Edwin Morales
• Vitín Ramos

[[Arecibo, Puerto Rico|Arecibo]]

• Carlos Molina
• Angel "Kuko" Ramos
• Lemuel Soto

[[Arroyo, Puerto Rico|Arroyo]]

• Darwin Covas
• Basilio Figueroa
• Ramón Morales

[[Caguas, Puerto Rico|Caguas]]

• Orlando Rivera
• Carlos González

[[Camuy, Puerto Rico|Camuy]]

• Edwin García Feliciano
• Johnny

[[Canóvanas, Puerto Rico|Canóvanas]]

• Roberto Cruz
• Manuel Quiñones
• José "Chemo" Soto

[[Cataño, Puerto Rico|Cataño]]

• Julio Alicea
• Mayra Ramsamy
• Wilson Soto
• Yareco

[[Cayey, Puerto Rico|Cayey]]

• Wilson Colón
• Benjamín González

[[Ceiba, Puerto Rico|Ceiba]]

• Pedro Colón Osorio
• Angelo Cruz Ramos

[[Corozal, Puerto Rico|Corozal]]

• Roberto Hernández Vélez
• Norberto Torres

[[Florida, Puerto Rico|Florida]]

• Aaron Pargas Ojeda
• Víctor M. Rodríguez

[[Guaynabo, Puerto Rico|Guaynabo]]

• Héctor O'Neill
• Miguel Gutarra

[[Humacao, Puerto Rico|Humacao]]

• "Piloto" Santiago
• Maritza Vargas

[[Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico|Juana Díaz]]

• Gardy Guzmán
• Nilsa Santiago

[[Juncos, Puerto Rico|Juncos]]

• Junito Mulero
• Karen Velázquez

[[Lajas, Puerto Rico|Lajas]]

• Leo Cotte
• Edgardo
• Johnny Ramos

[[Lares, Puerto Rico|Lares]]

• Roberto Pagán Centeno
• Eddie Nuñez

[[Las Piedras, Puerto Rico|Las Piedras]]

• Micky López
• Angel R. Peña

[[Loíza, Puerto Rico|Loíza]]

• Luis Ambrosio de Jesús
• Eddie Manso

[[Luquillo, Puerto Rico|Luquillo]]

• José "Nelo" González
• Rafa Pérez

[[Morovis, Puerto Rico|Morovis]]

• Norberto Negrón
• Heriberto Rodríguez

[[Patillas, Puerto Rico|Patillas]]

• Benjamín Cintrón Lebrón
• Maritza Rivera

[[Ponce, Puerto Rico|Ponce]]

• Angel Llavona
• María "Mayita" Meléndez

[[Quebradillas, Puerto Rico|Quebradillas]]

• Moisés Soto
• Elías Nieves

[[Rincón, Puerto Rico|Rincón]]

• María Lourdes Méndez
• Eddie Ríos

[[Río Grande, Puerto Rico|Río Grande]]

• César
• María Milagros Charbonier
• Javier Sánchez

[[Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico|Sabana Grande]]

• Wilfrido Bonilla
• Santitos Rivera
• Linnette Toledo

[[Salinas, Puerto Rico|Salinas]]

• Ernesto Aponte
• Jorgito Díaz
• Carlos Rodríguez Mateo

[[San Germán, Puerto Rico|San Germán]]

• Mónica Alpi
• Luis Cancel
• Efraín Montalvo
• Edgardo Suárez

[[San Sebastián, Puerto Rico|San Sebastián]]

• Javier Jiménez
• Justo Medina

[[Toa Alta, Puerto Rico|Toa Alta]]

• Luis Collazo Rivera
• Nelson
• Evelyn Ortega

[[Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico|Trujillo Alto]]

• Julio Andino
• Emmanuel Huertas
• Eduardo Otero

[[Utuado, Puerto Rico|Utuado]]

• Alan González Cancel
• Jorgito Pérez

Results

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 and Miriam Ramírez de Ferrer with 60% of the votes to win the spot for Resident Commissioner.

Governor

Resident Commissioner

Senate

At-large

District

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district I|San Juan]]

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district II|Bayamón]]

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district III|Arecibo]]

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district IV|Mayagüez-Aguadilla]]

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district V|Ponce]]

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district VI|Guayama]]

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district VII|Humacao]]

[[Puerto Rico Senatorial district VIII|Carolina]]

House of Representatives

At-large

District

District 1

District 4

District 5

District 6

District 8

District 10

District 11

District 14

District 15

District 16

District 17

District 18

District 20

District 21

District 23

District 24

District 26

District 28

District 31

District 32

District 33

District 34

District 35

District 36

District 37

District 38

District 39

District 40

Aftermath

Members of PPD voting

During and after the primaries, members of the New Progressive Party (PNP), like Senator Norma Burgos, claimed they saw voters affiliated with the opposing Popular Democratic Party (PPD) voting in the PNP ballots. Also, Maritza Vázquez, Electoral Commissioner of PPD representative Conny Varela, admitted in 2010 that "thousands of 'populares' voted on that election'". Some of the supporters of Rosselló maintain that this "crossover" was crucial in Pedro Rosselló's defeat against Luis Fortuño.

Rosselló "Write-In" campaign

As a result of Rosselló's loss in the primaries, a group of his supporters started a campaign to have him elected through "Write-in" voting.

The fate of the "Auténticos"

Despite Rosselló's call for a "vote of punishment" against the "Auténticos", all but one of the eligible candidates from that faction were elected in the primaries. Carlos Díaz was edged out of the election race by Senators Roberto Arango and Kimmey Raschke. Migdalia Padilla, Lucy Arce, and Jorge de Castro Font were all elected. Kenneth McClintock had decided not to run for Senate, while Orlando Parga refused to return to the party after his expulsion, and started an independent campaign.

References

References

1. [https://archive.today/20130121235143/http://www.elnuevodia.com/Xstatic/endi/template/imprimir.aspx?id=339960&t=3 Apuesta Rosselló al voto de castigo] on ''[[El Nuevo Día]]'' (January 3, 2008)
2. [http://64.185.222.182/Primarias/escrutinio/PNP/Default.htm Primarias 2008: Escrutinio General - Gobernador] {{webarchive. link. (2016-03-03 on CEEPUR)
3. [http://64.185.222.182/Primarias/escrutinio/PNP/Default.htm Primarias 2008: Escrutinio General - Comisionado Residente] {{webarchive. link. (2016-03-03 on CEEPUR)
4. [http://www.noticiasonline.com/Det.asp?id=3449 Gobernador da las gracias por rechazo a Rosselló] on NoticiasOnline; Banuchi, Rebecca (3/10/2008)
5. [https://www.adendi.com/archivo.asp?Xnum=753849&year=2010&mon=8 Conny usará ejército de abogados para que estadistas voten] on ''[[El Nuevo Día]]'' (August 5, 2010)