2019 PR PNP Special Elections for Senator At-Large

Following the resignations of Margarita Nolasco Santiago (PNP-D) to head the Puerto Rico Automobile Accident Compensation Administration and Zoé Laboy (PNP-D) to become chief of Staff to Governor Wanda Vázquez the PNP held these two special elections as one (due to the structure of the At-Large primary system)

In it, multiple significant candidates ran — in addition to the two above, in order of results, the candidates were

• Future Senator & then UPI Aguadilla professor Keren Riquelme

• Future Senator, Police Sergeant, and vice president of the Association of Organized Police Gregorio Matías Rosado

• former Guayama Mayor Glorimari Jaime

• Western PNP Youth leader Marcos Fabián González

• Gurabo Community Leader Michael López Saldaña

• Lawyer Lcdo. Alba Iris Calderón Cestero

• Former PNP HD-29 Representative Pedro Banchy Cintrón (2005-2013)

• Undersecretary for Housing under Pedro Rosselló: Alfredo Ocasio

• Caguas PNP Municipal Chair Roberto López

• Department of Transportation employee Gladys Díaz

• Former PPD HD-11 Representative Javier García Cabán (2001-2009)

• Citizen Armando Rodríguez Santoni

• Lawyer Lcdo. Daniel Russe

• former PNP Cayey Mayoral candidate Wilson Colón Rivera

While both of the winners were somewhat controvercial — William Villafañe had been in the infamous RickyLeaks chat, though he left the admin over a year before the scandal occured, and Héctor Martinez had been convicted, and aquitted of corruption charges — the biggest issue in the special election was 

Villafañe, on the eve of the primary, stating that he would challenge then Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz for the Senate Presidency.

This fact was likely due to Villafañe's loyalty to Ricky Rosselló — who Schatz + House Speaker Johnny Méndez (and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González) forced out of La Fortaleza with the cover of the Verano '19 protests.

In doing so, Schatz ended up (privately) supporting Keren Riquelme, and opposing Villafañe — however, due to Villafañe and Héctor Martínez being the most well-known candidates (and Villafañe still having support from the Rossellista section of the party) both of them were able to prevail