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In contrast to the Razor thin elections that occured on the mainland in this cycle, the 2000 Puerto Rican Elections saw a comfortable win for the Partido Popular Democratico, in which they attained complete Control of the Puerto Rican Government from the Partido Nuevo Progresista
The past term of 1997-2001 saw the Finalization of the Puerto Rican Healthcare system, which saw the creation of a Government health insurance program, alongside a sell of the Hospitals and Health institutions, something which is Critizised for making the Program one of the most costly run by the PR Government
Alongside that, the Rosselló administration sold of the Puerto Rican Telecomunications Company, despite it bringing in a profit for the State government at what was critizised as an incredibly low price, something wich led too a strike organized by the Labour Unions of the Company.
The sells Sparked some corruption rumors, Aided on by the fact that multiple members of the PNP, such as a Former Vice-Speaker & Vice President of the Senate, alongside some Mayors/Representatives and Senatorswere indicted and arrested on corruption charges
This led to Acting US District Attorney Guillermo Gil too saying "corruption has a name and it is called the New Progressive Party", as he indicted multiple Members of the PNP for an Extortion Scheme.
This election also saw the Viequez Protests take place, where residents of Puerto Rico, the US and the World Protested the U.S. Military's Actions on the island, which included Dumping of Toxic Chemicals and the Training of Soldiers
The Protests, & Civil Disobedience which included Puerto Rican U.S. Representatives Luis Gutiérrez(D-IL) & Nydia Velázquez(D-NY) were successfull and Led to the Military anouncing it would leave Vieques in 2003 which it ended up doing.
All of these actions left the Partido Nuevo Progresista in an unpopular position at the begining of the campaign, With Secretary of Transportation Dr. Carlos I. Pesquera(PNP-D) Trailing San Juan Mayor Sila María Calderon(PPD-D) 44% to 30%
Some of the Campaign Themes that were hit upon by the PPD were, the Viequez protests, the as of yet not mentioned infastructure Projects Championed by Rosselló and sheperded by Pesquera, the Superacueducto del Norte & El Tren Urbano*.
Whereas the PNP hit María Calderón on The spending on San Juan Tax dollars on a plane, and a case where the Calderón (SJ) administration gave a contract to a company afilliated with the PPD in which Calderón was acused of Favoratism.
The PNP however made many mistakes during the campaign that ended up harming them.
From insulting Calderón as "Old," insulting a wide section of the Electorate, creating an add that portrayed her as a stuck up woman, and Gov. Rosselló fireing in a humiliating way the female secretary of the Family Department
The mistakes showed in the polls as eventually narrowed as things got closer too election Day with Pesquera leading 43% to María Calderón's 42% with the PIP taking 6% on election Day, Down from the 40%-35%-8% Lead that they enjoyed during the summer.
*Unlike the Super Aqueduct El Tren Urbano was not completed by the End of Pedro Rosselló's Second Term, and Pesquera's Loss ended up killing the Project because Gobernadora Sila María Calderón would not complete the Train, due to the cost, the reason is Disputed by Dr. Pesquera who argues that it was already paid for.
In short, the 2000 Puerto Rican Election was a comfortable one for the PPD, with the PNP tainted with multiple Corruption Scandals, the stain of the Vieques Protests, and resentment with actions of the Rosselló Administration Carlos I. Pesquera(PNP-D) ended up Losing to Sila María Calderon(PPD-D).
Despite Pesquera Leading in the polls on Election day Calderon's Momentum During october Carried her to a Relatively comfortable 2.9% Victory, Bringing in with her a Majority in the Senate & House, alongside the Resident Commissioner and a Majority of Mayoralties.
Pesquera received a well and true beating, Mostly coming from the SouthWest Region, however, he also underperformed in the Traditionally PNP Bayamón & Lost the Municipio of San Juan, The first time a PNP Gubernatorial Candidate lost it since the party's Formation in 1968.**
**In addition this was the Best Gubernatorial Performance by the Partido Independentista de Puerto Rico's Leader Senator Rubén Ángel Berríos Martínez (PIP-At Large)
Taking a Look at State legislative Districts, Pesquera Carried only one Senate District, the 2nd District Bayamón, & 12 House of Representatives Districts, including the one that makes up the Old version of San Juan, District 1.
Turning our Eyes to the Resident Commissioner's Election we find that At-Large Representative & PR House Minority Leader Aníbal Acevedo Vilá (PPD-D) Ousted incumbent Resident Commissioner & Former Governor Carlos Romero Barceló (PNP-D).
Overall, Resident Commissioner Barceló ended up slightly underperforming Pesquera, Most noticably by loosing Arecibo, where Pesquera Did Not.
This is also be the Last time that the PPD Won the Resident Commissioners seat, as the PNP has held it since 2004 when they won it back
Taking a look at the Puerto Rico's Legislative Districts, we find that Acevedo Vilá carried 7 out of 8 Senate districts & 29/40 House Districts, too Romero Barceló's 1 SD & 11 HDs Respectively.
Also worth noting, In comparrison with Sila María Calderón Acevedo Vilá crossed the 50% mark in the Mayagüez & Guayama senate Districts, in addition to the senate district she crossed 50% in, Ponce.
Looking at this cycle's District results and one can see how the PNP was nearly wipped out this election. Not only did they lose their supermajorities in The House & Senate, but they were relegated to a Superminority in the senate, loosing 11 District seats & 1 At Large Seat.
They fared Better in the House though, were they were able too hold 15 District seats & 5 At-Large Seats, and Ended up only loosing 16 District seats alongside one at large seat, however Unlike the Senate, the PNP was not relegated too Superminority Status.
All in all the PNP had a net loss of 11 seats in the Senate and 17 Seats in the House, Giving the PPD a 5 Seat Majority(11 Seat Span) in the Senate & 4 Seat Majority(10 seat Span) in the House
Lastly, Similar too the Legislative Elections, The PNP received a Shellacking in the 2000 Mayoral elections, having a Net loss off 21 Seats, Loosing 24 Seats while gaining 3, including Sila María Calderón's Mayoralty in San Juan***.
I'd also Like to note that the Person who flipped the Mayoralty of Isabela this cycle was Carlos Delgado Altieri(PPD-D), Who would hold the Mayoralty for 20 Years before running for the Governorship of Puerto Rico in 2020.
***Jorge Santini Padilla(PNP-R) Would Beat Eduardo Bhatia(PPD-D) in a race where the latter sought the Alliance of the PIP too give the PIP some power in a PPD-PIP unity government in San Juan (where he would be Mayor and the PIP take the city council) in exchange for them not throwing the race too the PNP, however the PIP did not take that offer and Santini then won the race with 48.6% of the Vote to Bhatia's 46.3% with the PIP taking 5.1% of the vote.
Jingle de Sila María Calderón
Jingle de Sila María Calderón
Jingle de Carlos I. Pesquera
Jingle de Carlos I. Pesquera
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