:format(jpeg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gfrmedia/UBJKFBQWQ5DGPKJ4A7XWZGYOPQ.jpg "Jesus Manuel Ortiz won the primary race for the PPD gubernatorial candidate")
President of Popular Democratic Party (PPD) and Representative, Jesus Manuel Ortiz GonzalezSunday won the gubernatorial primary against the senator Juan Zaragoza Gomez.
“Here is the new power of the popular party. We are the new force and together we are the force that Puerto Rico needs,” the gubernatorial candidate enthused at a press conference from PPD headquarters in Puerta de Tierra.
According to the numbers announced by the State Electoral Commission (CEE), the former press and public affairs secretary under former governor Alejandro García Padilla's administration had 61.53% of the vote at the time of publication, Zaragoza Gomez added. 38.47% preferences.
“Today the PPD and all of Puerto Rico won. We were able to demonstrate that internal competitive processes, however difficult they may be, can occur without creating divisions. (…) We have fulfilled what they expected from their party. We have taught,” said Ortiz, who came with his wife and children. said.
“I would like to specifically mention my friend Senator Juan Zaragoza. It is the stronghold of our party and our country. Juan Zaragoza should work hand in hand with us. “I hope we can have more conversations like the ones we've had in recent days,” he added.
Ortiz González won the race, according to the El Nuevo Día poll, the legislator will win with 55% of the vote, he will get 44%, while 1% of those surveyed do not know how he will win. Vote.
“We are very proud of the campaign we ran. For me, it was an extraordinary experience. In the Popular Party, only one word should rule: unity,” Zaragoza, for his part, expressed after handing victory to his opponent.
With this victory, the candidate must now focus on winning the general elections on November 5, ending their eight-year run of no-win PPD elections. If they lose, it will be the team's third loss in a row.
“I want to say to the thousands of people who didn't participate: 'This is your party.' I urge you to return home to a game that reflects the aspirations of the people in the moment they live in. It's time to act.” See in this renewed leadership the leader of the PPD.
En route to the primaries, Ortiz González – a two-term assemblyman – won a special election in May 2023 that led him to the party presidency after defeating Morovis Mayor. , Carmen Maldonado, and Luis Javier Hernández, Municipal Administrator of Villalba and President of the Association of Mayors.
In 2020, PPD had primaries for the gubernatorial candidate with former mayor Carlos “Charlie” Delgado Altieri of Isabela with 136,563 votes (62.92%), and former senator Eduardo Bhatia with 523,509% (523,5). According to CEE data, former mayor of San Juan Carmen Yulin Cruz was with 28,959 (13.34%).
