In a historic gubernatorial election in Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González of the New Progressive Party is leading the polls with 39% of the votes, followed by Juan Dalmau of the Independence Party and Citizen Victory Movement with 33%. The Popular Democratic Party candidate, Jesús Manuel Ortiz, secured 21% of the votes, while Javier Jiménez of Project Dignity received 7%.
The election marks a potential third consecutive term for the New Progressive Party, a significant milestone in Puerto Rican politics. The winner of the election will replace Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, who was defeated in the primary election by Jenniffer González.
In the race for Puerto Rico's new representative in the U.S. Congress, Pablo José Hernández of the Popular Democratic Party is currently leading with 46% of the votes.
Changing Political Landscape
Juan Dalmau's strong showing reflects a growing sentiment among voters who are seeking alternatives to the island's traditional political parties. Frustrated with issues such as corruption, power outages, and housing affordability, voters are increasingly open to new leadership.
The election also featured a nonbinding referendum on Puerto Rico's political status, with options including statehood, independence, and independence with free association. Statehood received 57% of the votes, followed by independence with 31%, marking a significant shift in voter preferences.
Regardless of the referendum outcome, any change in Puerto Rico's status would require approval from the U.S. Congress. Party officials have highlighted the unequal treatment Puerto Rico receives in federal programs despite its status as a U.S. territory.
The election results and referendum outcomes signal a potential turning point in Puerto Rican politics, with voters expressing a desire for change and new leadership to address pressing issues facing the island.
