Puerto Rico Rep. Jesús Manuel Ortiz wins gubernatorial primary. Pro-statehood party still undecided

By DÁNICA COTO
Associated Press

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico Rep. Jesús Manuel Ortiz has defeated Sen. Juan Zaragoza in a gubernatorial primary held by their Popular Democratic Party, which seeks a return to power in the general elections. Zaragoza conceded defeat after obtaining 38% of the votes in Sunday’s primary, compared with his rival’s 62%, even though only a little over half the votes had been counted. Meanwhile, Gov. Pedro Pierluisi is still locked in a battle with Puerto Rico congressional representative Jenniffer González in a primary held by the pro-statehood New Progressive Party. All candidates faced disgruntled voters on an island still struggling with chronic power outages and awaiting completion of reconstruction projects following Hurricane Maria in 2017.