Election Date: November 4, 2008

Abstract: At stake: Governor, Legislative Assembly

At stake: Governor, Legislative Assembly

Background

Since 1898, after the Spanish-American War, the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico has been a commonwealth associated with the United States.

Since 1917, Puerto Ricans have been U.S. Citizens. However, residents of Puerto Rico lack voting representation in Congress and do not participate in presidential elections. Puerto Ricans are still mandated by most federal laws and are subject to military service.

In three occasions—1967, 1993, and 1998—voters in Puerto Rico rejected changing the status of their relationship with the U.S.

Three parties dominate Puerto Rico’s political scene, each with different views on the future of the territory. The Popular Democratic Party (PPD) advocates for the continuation of the commonwealth agreement with the U.S. The New Progressive Party (PNP) wants Puerto Rico to become a full state of the union. The Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) proposes to achieve a sovereign status.

Close to 4 million residents populate Puerto Rico. The territory’s economy is one of the strongest in the Caribbean, thanks mainly to its relationship with the U.S. Tourism and agriculture are important sources of income for the islands.

A governor is elected by popular vote every four years. In the 2004 election, a recount was necessary to determine the winner. Final results gave the PPD’s Aníbal Acevedo-Vilá 48.39 per cent of the vote, and the PNP’s Pedro Rosselló 48.23 per cent.

Acevedo-Vilá—who had been Puerto Rico’s non-voting representative to the U.S Congress since 2001—took office on Jan. 2, 2005.

Click here for Puerto Rico’s 2004 Gubernatorial Election Tracker

The controversial election of 2004 resulted in several legal challenges launched before the United States federal courts and the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. Both courts ratified the legitimacy of the ballot.

Throughout 2005, disagreements between the Acevedo-Vilá administration and the Puerto Rican legislature—dominated by the opposition PNP—practically paralyzed the legislative agenda.

In May 2006, a crisis erupted when Acevedo-Vilá said that the government lacked enough funds to cover the salary of public employees for the months of May and June. The governor asked lawmakers to approve a loan to cover the costs, but a disagreement between the lower and upper houses resulted in a decision to shut down government agencies in May. The public sector stoppage lasted two weeks before legislators and the government reached an accord.

Another major disagreement over a proposed sales tax of seven per cent pitted the governor against the legislature on that same year. On Nov. 15, the new tax was implemented. Acevedo-Vilá introduced it saying it was "necessary to restore the territory’s finances."

Also in 2006, rumours began to haunt the governor over a possible federal investigation into his campaign financing in 2001 and 2002.  

2008 Gubernatorial Election

Incumbent governor Aníbal Acevedo-Vilá is running for re-election with the Popular Democratic Party (PPD).

Two other prominent candidates are Luis Fortuño of the New Progressive Party (PNP) and Edwin Irazarry Mora of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP).

Acevedo-Vilá is a member of the U.S. Democratic Governors Association. The governor is currently supporting Democratic candidate Barack Obama for president.

On Mar. 27, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) charged Acevedo-Vilá and 12 other people with 19 counts of corruption related to campaign financing and conspiracy to violate federal electoral legislation. On Aug. 19, the FBI charged the governor with five more counts related to the same actions. Acevedo-Vilá has repeatedly claimed he is innocent, and alleges he is the victim of a political conspiracy.

On Aug. 21, the governor said in a televised debate: "I have never committed an illegal act and I have never asked anyone to do so. (…) There is not one allegation of illegally awarding contracts, bribery or embezzlement of public funds. (…) You and I know that this was, is and will be a political investigation motivated by people who don’t tolerate that one thinks differently from them."

On Aug. 23, the FBI raided the office and home of PNP senator Jorge de Castro Font as part of a corruption probe. PNP leader and gubernatorial candidate Fortuño called for De Castro Font to abandon his re-election bid in the November ballot, but the senator said in a press conference the following day: "I am not going to resign." De Castro Font is an outspoken advocate of Puerto Rico becoming a U.S. state.

A legal controversy is brewing between election officials in Puerto Rico and an American Federal Court. The latter ordered Puerto Rico’s electoral authority to print ballots for the Nov. 4 election in English after two residents who do not speak Spanish sued because they cannot understand the ballots. The electoral commission is challenging the ruling, alleging that there is not enough time to print English ballots before the election.

On Oct. 26, Fortuño expressed confidence in a victory, saying, “The momentum is incredible, each day that passes, the support growths more and more, the tendency is clear, there are definitely triumph and glory spirits in the air, on November 4 Puerto Rico will move towards the road of change.”

Voting took place on Nov. 4. Preliminary results suggested that Fortuño would win the election. The PNP candidate declared: “This historic victory demonstrates that the people of Puerto Rico want change for progress, and I am fully committed to delivering it. I have a vision for a stronger, more economically sound and prosperous Puerto Rico, and I am confident that together we will re-energize the Island’s economy. The people of Puerto Rico voted to re-instate good government, and my administration will deliver on our promise.”

Final results assured Fortuño’s victory with 52.78 per cent of the vote. Acevedo-Vilá came second with 41.28 of all cast ballots.

After accepting his victory, Fortuño declared: “As the governor of four million Hispanic American citizens, I am committed to work with my party to restructure our message, in a way that we can tout those ideas we share and treasure, including defending our families, our entrepreneur spirit and our commitment in defending our great nation.”

In his concession speech, Acevedo-Vilá stated: “I would like this moment to congratulate the governor-elect of Puerto Rico: Luis Fortuño. (…) It was a tough battle against all the obstacles imaginable, and even the unimaginable.”

Political Players

Governor: Aníbal Acevedo-Vilá - PPD

The governor is elected to a four-year term by popular vote.

Legislative Branch: The Asamblea Legislativa (Legislative Assembly) has two chambers. The Cámara de Representantes (Chamber of Representatives) has 51 members, elected to four-year terms; 40 members are elected in single-seat constituencies, and 11 are elected by proportional representation. The Senado (Senate) has 27 members, elected to four-year terms; 16 members are elected in two-seat constituencies, and 11 are elected by proportional representation. In both the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate, the opposition must control at least one-third of the seats. Puerto Rican voters also elect a non-voting member to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Results of Last Election:

Governor - Nov. 4, 2008

	Vote%
Luis Fortuño - New Progressive Party (PNP)	52.77%
Aníbal Acevedo-Vilá - Popular Democratic Party (PPD)	41.29%
Rogelio Figueroa - Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party (PPR)	2.76%
Edwin Irazarry Mora - Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP)	2.04%
Pedro Rosselló - Independent	0.64%
Other candidates	0.49%

Resident Commissioner - Nov. 4, 2008

	Vote%
Pedro Pierluisi - New Progressive Party (PNP)	52.68%
Alfredo Salazar - Popular Democratic Party (PPD)	42.30%
Carlos Alberto Velázquez - Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party (PPR)	2.39%
Jessica Martinez Biel - Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP)	1.95%
Other candidates	0.67%

Chamber of Representatives - Nov. 4, 2008

	Vote%	Seats
New Progressive Party (PNP)	74.50%	38
Popular Democratic Party (PPD)	25.49%	13

Senate - Nov. 4, 2008

	Vote%	Seats
New Progressive Party (PNP)	81.48%	22
Popular Democratic Party (PPD)	18.51%	5

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