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
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 ...
Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá (born 13 February 1962) is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer. He served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus (LL.M. 1987) and a graduate of the University of Puer ...
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
Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá (born 13 February 1962) is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer. He served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus (LL.M. 1987) and a graduate of the University of Puer ...
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
Francisco R. Zayas Seijo, also known as Ico (born 4 October 1951), is a former member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives and mayor of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. During his 4-year mayoral term, Zayas Seijo established the Mariana ...
facing the former administrator of the city, Carlos Jirau.
Candidates
Senate
At-large
*
Eduardo Bhatia
Eduardo Bhatia Gautier (born May 16, 1964) is a Puerto Rican attorney and politician. Bhatia is a former 15th President of the Senate of Puerto Rico and executive director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration.
Early life and educa ...
*
Juan Cancel Alegría
Juan Andrés Cancel Alegría is a Puerto Rican politician and former senator. He was a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2005.
Biography
Juan Cancel Alegría is the son of former President of the Senate Juan Cancel Ríos and Car ...
* Víctor de la Cruz
* Landy Fabre
*
Antonio Fas Alzamora
Antonio "Tony" J. Fas Alzamora (born November 16, 1948) is a Puerto Rican politician and Senator. As of 31 December 2011, he was the longest-serving legislator in the history of Puerto Rico, having served in ten Legislative Assemblies, one Ho ...
*
Alejandro García Padilla
Alejandro Javier García Padilla (; born August 3, 1971) is a Puerto Rican politician and attorney who served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 2013 to 2017.
Prior to this position, García Padilla held various roles in the political la ...
*
Sila Mari González Calderón
Sila may refer to :
Places and jurisdictions
; Asia
* Silla, one of the three kingdoms of ancient Korea
* Sila, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
; Europe
* La Sila, a mountainous area of Calabria, Italy
** Sila National Park
* Siła, Warmian-Mas ...
*
Juan Eugenio Hernández Mayoral
Juan Eugenio Hernández Mayoral (born 21 April 1969 on Ponce, Puerto Rico) is the Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) since 2 January 2013 and former Senator of Puerto Rico (2005-2011). He is son of former three-t ...
* Rafael Irizarri
*
Margarita Ostolaza
*
Cirilo Tirado Rivera
*
Roberto Vigoreaux
District
The Popular Democratic Party held primaries on only 4 of the 8
senatorial districts.
=
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 ...
=
* Wanda Arroyo
* Javier Cruz
* María Elena
* Edgar A. Martínez
* Francis Rivera
* Iván Serrano Cordero
= Mayagüez-Aguadilla
=
* Robin H. Montes
* Sergio Ortíz
* Omar Soto
* Enid Toro de Báez
= Ponce
=
*
Modesto Agosto Alicea
Modesto Agosto Alicea (December 7, 1943 – October 22, 2016) was a Puerto Rican politician and senator. He was a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico from 1997 to 2005 representing the Popular Democratic Party (PPD).
Early years and studies
Mo ...
* José Luis Galarza
*
Bruno Ramos
Bruno A. Ramos Olivera (born December 4, 1950 in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican politician and former senator. He was a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico from 1997 to 2005 representing the Popular Democratic Party (PPD).
Early years ...
* José H. Rivera
* Rafael Santiago
= Guayama
=
* Luis Guillermo Febus
*
Eder Ortíz Ortíz
* Angel M. Rodríguez
House of Representatives
At-large
*
Jorge Colberg Toro
Jorge Colberg Toro (born October 7, 1965) is a Puerto Rican politician, a former Member of the House of Representatives and a College Professor. He served as a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from 2003 to 2013. He also was Sec ...
* Ulises Dalmau
*
Héctor Ferrer
*
Brenda López de Arrarás
Brenda López de Arrarás (born April 25, 1971) is a Puerto Rican politician. She was a member of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Representatives from 2009 until 2021, and is affiliated to the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) and served as the party' ...
* Jeanette Miranda
* Julio Muñoz
* Angel Ortíz
*
Jaime Perelló
Jaime R. Perelló Borrás (born September 14, 1973) is a Puerto Rican politician. Perelló is affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico and the Democratic Party of the United States. He was the 30th Speaker of the House of Repr ...
* Coco Ríos
* Frankie Rodríguez
* Ramón Ruíz Nieves
* José Segui
*
Luis Vega Ramos
Luis Vega Ramos (born June 11, 1970) is a Puerto Rican lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from 2006 to 2021.
Early years and studies
Luis Vega Ramos was born on June 11, 1970 to Luis Vega López a ...
*
Carmen Yulín Cruz
Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto (born February 25, 1963) is a Puerto Rican politician who served as mayor of the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico from 2013 to 2020. From 2009 through 2013, Cruz served in the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico.
Ea ...
District
The Popular Democratic Party held primaries on 24 of the
40 representative districts.
=District 3
=
* Ruthy Currás
* Herminio Pagán
=District 11
=
* Ricky Arrillaga
* Rafael Hernández
=District 12
=
* Jorge Avilés
* Eliezer Burgos
* Claudio Ferrer, Jr.
* Remberto Rodríguez
=District 13
=
* Benny Collazo
* Felix Pagán
* Víctor Rodríguez
* Amadis Ulises
=District 14
=
* Vángelo Figueroa
* Felix Rosario
* Juan R. Torres
=District 16
=
*
Tony Rodríguez
* Juan Vega Salamanca
=District 17
=
* Moisés Acevedo
*
Armando Franco
* Alfredo González
* Héctor Mol Ibañez
=District 18
=
* Luis "Chivita" González
* Concepción Salas
* Solá
* María Vargas
=District 20
=
* Elvin Camacho
* Luis Ramírez
* Jorgito Ramos
* Eduardo Rosado
=District 21
=
* Naida Mateo
*
Lydia Méndez Silva
Lydia Méndez Silva is a Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). She has been a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives since 1997 representing District 21.
Early years and studies
Lydia R. Mén ...
* Rafy Nazario
=District 22
=
* Juan O. Alicea
* Georgie González
=District 23
=
* Wilo Beltrán
* Rafael A. García
=District 24
=
* Ramón Borrero
*
Luis Farinacci
* Vilma Flores
* Ferdinand Martínez
* Vangie Rivera
=District 25
=
* Edgar Manolo Avilés
* Jorge Miranda
* Piro Reyes
*
Víctor Vassallo
=District 26
=
* John Avilés
* Juan Carlos Figueroa
* Gamalier Pagán
=District 27
=
* Carmen Iris González
* Carlos Luis Torres
* Pito Torres
=District 28
=
* Jorge I. Agosto
* Frankie Cuadrado
* Remesal
* Rosendo
* Luis Santiago
=District 29
=
* Félix Agosto
* Heric Colón
* José R. Varela
=District 30
=
* Rey Alomar
* Eduardo Cintrón
* Migdalia Díaz
* Domingo Torres
=District 33
=
* Héctor Carrasquillo
* Gilbert
=District 34
=
* George Soto
* Juan Pedro
=District 35
=
*
Narden Jaime Espinosa
* Ricardo Fernández
* Freddy
* José Pi Báez
* José "Tony" Reyes
* Valentín Valdés
* William Vázquez
=District 36
=
* Ricky Abreu
* Andújar
=District 37
=
* José Miguel del Valle, Jr.
* Frankie Guerra
Mayors
The Popular Democratic Party held primaries on 23 of 78 municipalities.
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 ...
* Ramón E. Dasta
* Héctor Rafael
Arroyo
*
Eric Bachier Román
Eric Enrique Bachier Román (born August 21, 1976) is a Puerto Rican politician and the current mayor of Arroyo, Puerto Rico. Bachier is affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) and has served as mayor since 2013.
Early life and edu ...
* Ricardo Rivera
Canóvanas
* Moisés Castro
* Jesús Rosado
Cataño
* Félix Fuentes
*
José Rosario
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 ...
* Gilberto "Lex" Camacho
* Humberto González
* Abimael Portalatín
Culebra
* Alexis Bermúdez
* Digna Feliciana
Fajardo
Fajardo (, ) is a town and municipality -Fajardo Combined Statistical Area.
Fajardo is the hub of much of the recreational boating in Puerto Rico and a popular launching port to Culebra, Vieques, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. It is ...
* Myrna García
* Norma Guzmán
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 ...
* Johnny de León
* Yonatan
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 ...
* Joel Rosario
*
Marcelo Trujillo
Juana Díaz
* Luis Angel Cortés
*
Ramón Hernández Torres
Lajas
* César Corales
*
Marcos "Turin" Irizarry
* Ambrosio Rodríguez
Lares
Lares ( , ; archaic , singular ''Lar'') were guardian deities in ancient Roman religion. Their origin is uncertain; they may have been hero-ancestors, guardians of the hearth, fields, boundaries, or fruitfulness, or an amalgam of these.
Lare ...
* Chely
* Rigo Guilloty
Las Marías
* Reinaldo González
*
José Javier Rodríguez
Las Piedras
* Nelson Vázquez
* Roberto Velázquez
Loíza
* Julito Osorio
* Maricruz Rivera
Moca
* Wilson Acevedo
* Aida E. González
Naranjito
* Manuel Martínez
* Moncho Padilla
* Víctor Manuel Pérez
* Cheo Rivera
* Jolly Rivera
Ponce
* Carlos Jirau
*
Francisco Zayas Seijo
Francisco R. Zayas Seijo, also known as Ico (born 4 October 1951), is a former member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives and mayor of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. During his 4-year mayoral term, Zayas Seijo established the Mariana ...
Rincón
* Juan D. Elías
*
Carlos López Bonilla
Salinas
* Tony Badé
* Francisco Colón
* Abraham López
* Pedro Santos
Trujillo Alto
Trujillo Alto (, ) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Northern Coastal Plain, on the boundary between the karst zone and Sierra de Luquillo, north of Caguas, and Gurabo; southeast of San Juan, and west of Carolina. Truji ...
*
José Luis Cruz Cruz
* Hiram
Utuado
* Jesús Arce
* Ramón Collazo
* Martín Negrón
* Otilio Plaza
* Quitín
Vieques
Vieques (; ), officially Isla de Vieques, is an island and municipality of Puerto Rico, in the northeastern Caribbean, part of an island grouping sometimes known as the Spanish Virgin Islands. Vieques is part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, ...
*
Víctor Emeric
* Dámaso Serrano
Results
Senate
At-large
District
=
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
=
= Ponce
=
= Guayama
=
House of Representatives
At-large
Aftermath
Acevedo Vilá's candidacy
Several weeks after the primaries, Incumbent
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 ...
and PPD candidate,
Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá (born 13 February 1962) is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer. He served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus (LL.M. 1987) and a graduate of the University of Puer ...
, 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
The Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot (English: ''José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico'') is the biggest indoor arena in Puerto Rico dedicated to entertainment. It is located at the Golden Mile of San Juan, the island capital ...
in April 2008. 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
Francisco R. Zayas Seijo, also known as Ico (born 4 October 1951), is a former member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives and mayor of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. During his 4-year mayoral term, Zayas Seijo established the Mariana ...
narrowly beat his opponent, former Ponce administrator, Carlos Jirau. Zayas beat Jirau by less than 30 votes. After the defeat, Jirau appealed the primary claiming there were irregularities in the process. He also started an independent movement called ''Movimiento Autónomo Ponceño''. 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.
“Mayita no ganó, Ico Zayas perdió”
on ''El Nuevo Día
''El Nuevo Día'' (English: ''The New Day'') is the newspaper with the largest circulation in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1909 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and today it is a subsidiary of GFR Media. Its headquarters are in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
...
'' (November 6, 2008)
See also
* New Progressive Party primaries, 2008
The 2008 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, namely the position of governor, for the 2008 general elec ...
References
{{Puerto Rico political parties primaries
Primary elections in Puerto Rico
2008 Puerto Rico elections
Popular Democratic Party (Puerto Rico)