1996 San Juan, Puerto Rico, mayoral election

San Juan, Puerto Rico, held an election for mayor on November 5, 1996. It was held as part of the 1996 Puerto Rican general election. It saw the election of Sila María Calderón, a member of the Popular Democratic Party.

1996 San Juan, Puerto Rico, mayoral election

← 1992 November 5, 1996 2000 →
 
Nominee Sila María Calderón Zaida Cucusa Hernández
Party Popular Democratic New Progressive
Alliance Democratic Republican
Popular vote 105,940 97,572
Percentage 50.40% 46.41%

Mayor before election

Héctor Luis Acevedo
Popular Democratic

Elected Mayor

Sila María Calderón
Popular Democratic

Nominations edit

New Progressive Party primary edit

The New Progressive Party nominated speaker of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico Zaida Cucusa Hernández in a primary held by the party on April 2, 1995. This marked the first time that the party had ever held a mayoral primary.[1]

Out of roughly 30,000 votes cast, Calderon received roughly 90% of the vote in a landslide victory, defeating Jorge de Castro (former member of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives) and Nicolas Gautier.[1]

Popular Democratic Party edit

The Popular Democratic Party nominated former secretary of state of Puerto Rico Sila María Calderón.

Puerto Rican Independence Party edit

The Puerto Rican Independence Party nominated Irma Rodríguez

General election edit

This was the first mayoral election in the city's history in which the two leading candidates were both women.[1]

Results edit

San Juan mayoral election[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Popular Democratic Sila María Calderón 105,940 50.40
New Progressive Zaida "Cucusa" Hernández 97,572 46.41
Independence Irma Rodríguez 5,330 2.54
Write-In Others 1,378 0.66
Total votes 210,220 100

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Rivas, Lillian (April 4, 1995). "Calderon wins San Juan mayoral primary". Newspapers.com. The Miami Herald. The Associated Press. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Elecciones Generales 1996: Alcalde de San Juan: Escrutinio por Precintos". Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico. 1996. Retrieved July 13, 2021.