A pro-Trump Republican, unscathed by the Trump campaign's "garbage island" controversy, decisively ousted the incumbent Democratic governor in Puerto Rico's primary election.
Jenniffer González, Puerto Rico's congressional representative and a pro-statehood Republican, scored a victory over incumbent Gov. Pedro Pierluisi in a primary election for the New Progressive Party (PNP) held Sunday, as reported by the Associated Press.
The two, who ran on the same ticket four years ago, clashed bitterly in this campaign after González announced her bid to challenge Pierluisi last December. González secured 56% of the vote, making her the first female gubernatorial candidate to win the PNP primary, AP reported.
Her campaign highlighted residents' frustration with issues like power outages, high costs and healthcare challenges, while Pierluisi had pointed to achievements such as record tourism and hurricane reconstruction projects.
Despite withdrawing her support for Trump following the 2021 insurrection at the Capitol, González backed Trump in his most recent presidential campaign, calling him "the best choice for the United States" in El Nuevo Día over the summer. "I'm going to be that link to put Puerto Rico on President Trump's agenda," she told the outlet.
González's support for Trump does not appear to have negatively impacted her campaign, despite widespread backlash after a comedian called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage" during an October Trump rally.
González campaigned on a pledge to address Puerto Rico's ongoing issues with corruption, doctor shortages and a failing power grid.
"They have broken Puerto Rico," voter Cecilio Rodríguez told AP. "Economic development must be a priority."
"That's one of the reasons why I'm aspiring to governorship, because I believe that we should not get used to not having electricity, we should not get used to not having water," González said on Sunday, as reported by AP.
She will face candidates from other parties in the general election in November, with her main goal to bring "improvement and change" to the island.
"Positions do not belong to politicians... they belong to the people," González declared in her victory speech, promising to focus on the concerns of everyday Puerto Ricans. "I commit to being on the streets, to listen to people."
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