The 2012 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 2012 general elections. They were held on March 18, 2012 and coincided with the Republican Party primaries in the island.
Background
At the time of the primaries, the Popular Democratic Party had already chosen current Senator Alejandro García Padilla, as their gubernatorial candidate. He would be joined in the ballot by Rafael Cox Alomar as candidate for Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico.
In the Senate, there were 5 sitting senators looking to retain their election spots. In the House, there were around 5 sitting representatives as well. Also, some returning candidates from previous years, like Roberto Vigoreaux, and other former officeholders, like Miguel Pereira and Aníbal José Torres, were entering the political race. Some relatives of known politicians also made the jump to politics. Eduardo Ferrer, brother of Héctor Ferrer, was aspiring for a Senate spot, while Javier Aponte Dalmau, brother of current mayor of Carolina, José Aponte Dalmau, both sons of former mayor José Aponte de la Torre, was running for a spot as representative for District 38.
Francisco Zayas Seijo, who was mayor of Ponce, was also attempting a return to politics after his defeat in 2008. He was running for the mayoral candidacy again, this time against Ramón Torres. The only sitting mayor from the PPD that was challenged in a primary was Edgardo Arlequín, from Guayanilla.
Also, the amount of primaries per municipality and districts were few, when compared to previous years. As a result, the primaries were expected to be of low participation among the party members.
Candidates
Mayors
The Popular Democratic Party held primaries in 20 of 78 municipalities.
Aibonito
Leonardo González
Lisandro Quiles
Dennis Nuñez
Arecibo
René González
Gilberto Legarreta
Jesús "Manía" López
Raquel Ortíz Roldán
Arroyo
Eric Bachier Román
Roberto Cora
Camuy
Ricardo García
Víctor Román Vélez
Cidra
Roberto Colón
Georgie Maldonado
Rudy Santos
Culebra
Alexis Bermúdez
Iván Solís
Fajardo
Michael Avilés
Reginald Neptune Torres
Guayama
Eduardo Cintrón
Samuel Ruíz
Guayanilla
Edgardo Arlequín
Juan "Tonito" Torres
Luquillo
Jesús "Jerry" Marquéz
María "Yini" Santiago
Moca
Héctor "Mol" Ibañez
Domingo "Isín" Méndez
Samuel Pellot
Morovis
Miguel "Mickey" Ríos
Roxana "Ivy" Sánchez
Naguabo
Wilfredo Astacio
Aguedo Rivera Ríos
José Obel Rosario
Patillas
José "Cheo" Pabón
Norberto Soto Figueroa
Ponce
Ramón Torres Morales
Francisco Zayas Seijo
San Sebastián
Reinaldo Ramos
Angel Salas Pérez
Santa Isabel
Jaime Muñoz
Justo Torres
Toa Alta
Clemente Agosto
José "Tito" Rolón
Utuado
Ernesto Irizarry Salvá
Rafael Juarbe Pagán
Vieques
Víctor Emeric
José Cedrid Morales
Dámaso Serrano
Results
Senate
At-large
District
San Juan
Arecibo
Mayagüez-Aguadilla
Ponce
Guayama
Humacao
Carolina
House of Representatives
At-large
District
District 1
District 3
District 4
District 9
District 10
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 27
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 35
District 36
District 38
See also
New Progressive Party primaries, 2012
References
External links
Comisión Estatal de Elecciones
Comisionado Electoral PPD
Primary elections in Puerto Rico
2012 Puerto Rico elections
Popular Democratic Party (Puerto Rico)