2020 PR PNP Governor Primary

The story by which Vázquez became governor is long, and a bit convoluted but in short: upon the release of a group chat that included Governor Ricardo Rosselló and multiple high ranking officials in his administration, he was embroiled in scandal.

This caused massive protests, thereby pressuring (and allowing) for PNP leaders to oust Rosselló in favor of a temporary leader who would be more in line with their factions. These leaders at the time were first Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González and Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz.

Upon their instruction, house speaker Johnny Méndez moved to impeach Rosselló, but not before beginning  the appointment process of frm Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi to be Secretary of State, the position that succeeds the governor in the event of a Vacancy

Pierluisi, the man Rosselló had beaten in the 2016 Gubernatorial primary, had been out of office since 2017 and was as such wholy untied with the past three years of Puerto Rican Politics—and with his appointment would be able to at least preserve some of Rosselló's stature within the party.

But this failed, despite being Confirmed by the House of Representatives, Schatz refused to move on his nomination, eventually resulting in the SCOPR throwing out Pierluisi's assumption of the governorship as he wasn't confirmed as secretary of state by the time Rosselló's resignation took effect.

Pierluisi funcionally inmediatly announced he would run for the governorship in 2020 after this failure, with most officials backing him early on to try and preserve unity in the party wounded after the protests. However there were some that were discontent with this arangement.

These mayors, such as that of San Sebastian and Aibonito would form the Backbone of Vazquez's support. However, as the tide's in the PNP had shifted towards Pierluisi, most major leaders either wholeheartedly supported him (such as Jenniffer González) or refused to publically opposed him (such as Schatz)

In addition, he also did well with the most educated segment of the PNP electorate—such as that of Northern Guaynabo.