By: PR Pundit
The political re-alignment of 1992 changed the dynamics of Party politics in Puerto Rico’s Municipalities. Since the 1996 General Election, sixteen (16) Municipalities have voted for the Gubernatorial candidate that won the Statewide and ultimately elected Governor of Puerto Rico.
Save for Trujillo Alto, and with the exception of the 1980 General Election, Caguas and Juana Díaz, none of the rest of the thirteen (13) Municipalities had ever been electoral battlegrounds.
San Juan voted for all New Progressive Party candidates from 1968 to 1996, while Carolina had only voted for a Popular Democratic Party candidate in 1972. On the other hand, Cabo Rojo, Isabela, Morovis, Rincón, San Germán, and San Sebastián had never voted for a New Progressive Party candidate. Barceloneta, Jayuya, Peñuelas, Vega Baja, and Vieques fluctuated between both Parties.
It is in these sixteen (16) Municipalities that the 2016 General Election will be won or lost.
During the next weeks, we will examine the political dynamics of these Municipalities, one by one. Today we talk about Barceloneta, Cabo Rojo, and Caguas.
Barceloneta
Governor Race:
NPP 1976, 1980, 1992, 1996, 2008
PPD 1968, 1972, 1984, 1988, 2000, 2004, 2012
Resident Commissioner Race:
NPP 1976, 1980, 1992, 1996, 2008
PPD 1968, 1972, 1984, 1988, 2000, 2004, 2012
Mayor’s Race:
NPP 1976, 1980
PPD 1968, 1972, 1984, 1988, 1992*, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012
*NPP won Municipal Assembly
In 2012, the New Progressive Party wasted a golden opportunity of taking Barceloneta back after three back-to-back humiliating defeats in 2000, 2004, and 2008. Many political analysts, as well as Party insiders, believed that the unexpected arrest by Federal Authorities of long-time Mayor Sol Luis Fontanes would cause the defeat of the Popular Democratic Party in that Municipality. Newly appointed Mayor Wanda Soler surprised all by defeating the New Progressive Party candidate by a margin as wide as Fontanes had in previous elections.
Cabo Rojo
Governor Race:
NPP 1996, 2008
PPD 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2012
Resident Commissioner Race:
NPP 1996, 2008
PPD 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2012
Mayor’s Race:
NPP 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008
PPD 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2012
In 1996, second-time candidate Santos E. Padilla Ferrer (NPP) took everyone by surprise by defeating three-term incumbent Santos (El Negro) Ortiz Ruiz (PPD), by a relatively open margin. Not only did Padilla defeat Ortiz, but Pedro Rosselló became the first New Progressive candidate to win the Governor’s race in Cabo Rojo. During the next elections, the NPP was also able to win the legislative races in Cabo Rojo, taking Norman Ramírez to the House of Representatives for two terms, as well as both of the Mayaguez District Senatorial seats. The New Progressive Party’s decision to prevent Miguel Ángel Martínez from the Primary Election Ballot ended up splitting that Party at a local level and while running an Independent campaign, Martínez was able to take enough votes away from then incumbent Mayor Perza Rodríguez to defeat her, as well as Representative Ramírez.
Cabo Rojo is a must-win for both parties, if they wish to control the Mayaguez Senatorial District.
Caguas
Governor Race:
NPP 1968, 1976, 1992, 1996, 2008
PPD 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988, 2000, 2004, 2012
Resident Commissioner Race:
NPP 1968, 1976, 1992, 1996, 2008
PPD 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988, 2000, 2004, 2012
Mayor’s Race:
NPP 1968, 1976
PPD 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012
Up to the entrance of late Mayor William Miranda Marín (PDP) into Caguas politics, that Municipality was a very competitive one. Miguel Hernández (NPP) and Ángel O. Berríos (PDP) alternated the Mayor’s Office from 1968 to 1980, and the Governor’s race was mixed as well. Since 2000, with the exception of 2008, Caguas has become a reliably Popular Democratic Municipality. It will remain to be seen in 2016, if Caguas will continue to vote with the Statewide winner, or if definitely becomes a Red Municipality. 2012 New Progressive candidate Norma E. Burgos Andujar, once seen as rising star in her Party, had a fiasco on the polls that not only led to her crushing defeat, but affected her Party’s Legislative and Gubernatorial races.
Next Monday, we continue our analysis with Carolina, Isabela, and Jayuya.
