By: PR Pundit
For the past two weeks, we have been analyzing the fifteen (15) Municipalities that have voted for the gubernatorial candidate that won the statewide election and ultimately elected Governor of Puerto Rico, which we have labeled Purple Municipalities.
Today we continue with that analysis with the Municipalities of San Germán, San Juan, and San Sebastián.
San Germán
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
PPD 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2012
Until 1996, San Germán was part of the traditionally deep red Southwestern triangle of Puerto Rico that includes Mayaguez, Hormigueros, Cabo Rojo, Lajas, and Sabana Grande. The NPP wave of 1996 broke the PDP hegemony in the region and pushed Isaac Llantín to the Mayor’s Office. The retirement of long-time Mayor Jorge Alberto Ramos Comas also aided the NPP.
Llantín’s disastrous incumbency as Mayor, however, paved the way for the PDP’s taking back of the old city, and the PDP has not lost the Mayor’s Office ever since.
In terms of the State Offices, as well as Status Plebiscites, San Germán has been very competitive since 1996. Rosselló (1996) and Fortuño (2008) won it for the NPP, and Calderón (2000), Acevedo (2004), and García (2012) won it for the PDP.
San Juan
Governor Race:
NPP 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2008
PPD 2000, 2004, 2012
Resident Commissioner Race:
NPP 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2008
PPD 2000, 2004, 2012
Mayor’s Race:
NPP 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 2000, 2004, 2008
PPD 1988, 1992, 1996, 2012
For an analysis of San Juan politics, we invite you to read our previous column, Has San Juan become a Toss-Up City?
San Sebastián
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 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012
PPD 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988
San Sebastián is a very curious city. Though we include it in the Purple Municipalities, it is more on the Red side than on the Blue side of the line, but the NPP seems to have a lock on the Mayor’s Office since the 90s.
Contrary to Carolina and Caguas, which have very strong PDP municipal machineries, while being competitive on the State Offices, San Sebastián has a very strong NPP municipal machine. Both NPP mayors of San Sebastián have won by comfortable margins, in spite of their gubernatorial candidates losing and support for the Commonwealth Status option is very strong. Despite that PDP tradition, the red bench seems to be getting shorter with each election.
Electorally, San Sebastián is crucial for control of the 16th Representative District and the Mayaguez-Aguadilla Senatorial District (along with Cabo Rojo).
Next Monday, we continue our analysis with Trujillo Alto, Vega Baja, and Vieques.
