Popular Democratic Party primaries, 2008
March 9, 2011

The 2008 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 2008 general elections. They were held on March 9, 2008. Incumbent Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá faced no opposition for his candidacy, making him the official candidate for the elections.

Background

At the time of the primaries, incumbent Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá was allegedly being investigated by federal authorities for allegations of irregularities in his campaign finances. However, despite this, the party supported his candidacy for Governor.

Also, one of the most contested campaigns was the one for Mayor of Ponce, with incumbent Francisco Zayas Seijo facing the former administrator of the city, Carlos Jirau.

Candidates

Senate

At-large

District

The Popular Democratic Party held primaries on only 4 of the 8 senatorial districts.

House of Representatives

At-large

District

The Popular Democratic Party held primaries on 24 of the 40 representative districts.

Mayors

The Popular Democratic Party held primaries on 23 of 78 municipalities.

Results

Senate

At-large

Candidate Popular vote Percentage
Alejandro García Padilla 213,153 14.40%
Eduardo Bhatia 207,883 14.04
Juan Eugenio Hernández Mayoral 167,088 11.28
Sila Mari González Calderón 151,550 10.24
Antonio Fas Alzamora 133,161 8.99
Cirilo Tirado Rivera 124,593 8.41
Roberto Vigoreaux 117,731 7.95
Margarita Ostolaza 113,663 7.68
Juan Cancel Alegría 104,373 7.05
Landy Fabre 84,410 5.70
Rafael Irizarri 35,284 2.38
Víctor de la Cruz 27,408 1.85
Others 350 0.02

District

House of Representatives

At-large

Candidate Popular vote Percentage
Héctor Ferrer 228,098 15.81%
Jaime Perelló 147,868 10.25
Brenda López de Arrarás 144,099 9.99
Jorge Colberg Toro 140,158 9.72
Carmen Yulín Cruz 133,510 9.26
Luis Vega Ramos 132,967 9.22
Ulises Dalmau 101,060 7.01
Ramón Ruíz Nieves 87,298 6.05
Angel Ortíz 75,671 5.25
Julio Muñoz 68,955 4.78
Jeanette Miranda 59,316 4.11
José Segui 50,458 3.50
Frankie Rodríguez 39,007 2.70
Coco Ríos 33,622 2.33
Others 392 0.03


Aftermath

Acevedo Vilá's candidacy

Several weeks after the primaries, Incumbent Governor and PPD candidate, Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, was officially indicted on 19 counts of campaign finance violations. This put his candidacy in jeopardy, and several candidates where taunted as possible replacements. However, Acevedo Vilá decided to run for reelection, and was openly endorsed by the Party in a massive caucus held at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in April 2008.[1][2] Acevedo Vilá would lose the 2008 general elections. However, in March 2009, he was found not guilty of all charges by a jury.

Split in Ponce

In the primary for the Mayor of Ponce, incumbent Francisco Zayas Seijo narrowly beat his opponent, former Ponce administrator, Carlos Jirau. Zayas beat Jirau by less than 30 votes.[3] After the defeat, Jirau appealed the primary claiming there were irregularities in the process. He also started an independent movement called Movimiento Autónomo Ponceño.[4][5] At the 2008 general elections, both Zayas and Jirau were defeated by the PNP candidate Mayita Meléndez. This was the first time a PNP candidate had won in Ponce in more than 20 years.[6]

See also

References

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