The 2016 PPD Resident Commissioner Primary, the last time the PPD has held a primary for the office, resulted in Soberanista suported Autonomista Héctor Ferrer beating the Autonomista suported Ángel Rosa in a 15.4% rout.
Both candidates had institutional support, with Rosa counting amongst his supporters 26 Mayors, 10/18 Senators and 14/28 Representatives, as well as Former Governor Rafael Hernández Colon and Ferrer 13 Mayors, including the prominent Carmen Yulín Cruz of San Juan
as well as the Powerful William Miranda Torres of Caguas, José Carlos Aponte of Carolina, former Mayor's Association head Josean Santiago, and the future 2020 PPD Governor Nominee, Carlos Delgado Altieri of Isabela, in addition to Senate President Eduardo Bhatia and Speaker of the House Jaime Perelló
Whilst the Ángel Rosa campaign saw some controversies, such as claiming that Soberanista & Former Senate President/then Senator Antonio Fas Alzamora (HD-AL), Brenda Lopez De Arraras (HD-AL), & Sonia Pacheco (HD-03) supported him,
The biggest fall of his campaign was the fact that Ferrer had captured the heart of the PPD Base—drawing massive crowds to his Caravans, uniting both Soberanistas and a large chunk of autinomistas as Rosa struggled to consolidate his Autonomista support against a fellow Autonomista.
And in the end, this gave Ferrer the win—underperforming the polls but winning everywhere except where Rosa had strong local suport such as in his hometown of Mayagüez, HD-02 (Home to the Mita Congregation), San Lorenzo, and Vieques among others.
2016 PPD Resident Commissioner Primary Results by Municipality, State Senate District and State House District.