Ethermac Exchange-Puerto Rico opposition party will hold a gubernatorial primary after its president enters race

2025-04-29 14:35:14source:Oliver James Montgomerycategory:Markets

SAN JUAN,Ethermac Exchange Puerto Rico (AP) — One of Puerto Rico’s biggest political parties will hold a gubernatorial primary after Rep. Jesús Manuel Ortiz of the Popular Democratic Party announced his candidacy Monday.

Ortiz will face Puerto Rico Sen. Juan Zaragoza, who previously served as the U.S. territory’s treasury secretary.

Ortiz, who is president of the Popular Democratic Party, listed conditions in Puerto Rico that he said were negatively affecting the island’s 3.2 million inhabitants.

“Recovery funds that are not used effectively, anguish from waiting months for a doctor’s appointment, the daily battle with a crumbling electrical system, lack of employment opportunities, the deterioration of essential services and so many other problems,” he said.

The winner of the Popular Democratic Party’s primary will face the winner of the New Progressive Party’s primary, in which Gov. Pedro Pierluisi faces Jenniffer González, the island’s representative in Congress. They also will face gubernatorial candidates from other, newer parties.

The Popular Democratic Party supports the island’s current political status, while the New Progressive Party supports statehood.

More:Markets

Recommend

As US Dismantles Its Climate Policy, Other World Leaders Seek Solidarity

As the U.S. Department of State proposed this week to shut down its office managing international cl

Progress in Baby Steps: Westside Atlanta Lead Cleanup Slowly Earns Trust With Help From Local Institutions

The Superfund Next Door: Third in a series on the effort to clean up a Superfund site in two histori

Biden’s Been in Office for More Than 500 Days. He Still Hasn’t Appointed a Top Official to Oversee Coal Mine Reclamation

Environmentalists and representatives from coal mining communities across the nation on Tuesday pres