Puerto Rico’s 2 biggest parties hold primaries as governor seeks 2nd term and voters demand change

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The future of Puerto Rico’s political status and its rebounding but fragile economy were at the center of fiery debates as the island’s two biggest political parties held contentious gubernatorial primaries Sunday.

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, head of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, was seeking a second term, running against Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, Jenniffer González. The two ran on the same ticket four years ago, but González announced her plan to challenge Pierluisi in early December. Public jabs between the two turned acrimonious.

Running alongside Pierluisi for the position of congressional representative was Puerto Rico Sen. William Villafañe, while senior U.S. naval military officer Elmer Román, a former secretary of state for Puerto Rico, sought the position under González.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico Sen. Juan Zaragoza, who was highly lauded for his work as the island’s former treasury secretary, ran against Rep. Jesús Manuel Ortiz to be the main candidate for the Popular Democratic Party, which supports the island’s status quo as a U.S. territory.