On Friday afternoon in Caguas, San Juan mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz officially announced her candidacy to seek the 2020 Popular Democratic Party (PPD) nomination for Governor of Puerto Rico. Her one-hour speech was streamed live on her public Facebook page.
After spending a large portion of her speech slamming the current administration of Governor Ricardo Rosselló, who is running for re-election in 2020, Yulín Cruz also called for a complete elimination of the Fiscal Control Board and a call for a new political transformation of politics in Puerto Rico.
The PPD nomination is not a lock for Yulín Cruz, as she is considered to be part of the PPD’s more progressive win. Several political observers are already noting that her bid will be intense, to say the least. In addition, her rise to national prominence post-Hurricane María caught the attention of many in the United States, making her one of the most high-profile Puerto Rican politicians in recent memory. However, she is not without her critics, especially among San Juan residents, and it would be very premature to say that she is a guaranteed winner to become Puerto Rico’s next governor.
Our founder, Julio Ricardo Varela, live-tweeted portions of the speech, and Latino Rebels plans to offer more analysis and coverage of what will certainly be (yet another) fascinating race in Puerto Rico.
.@CarmenYulinCruz saying now that the PPD has lost its way a bit from its core mission of “Pan, tierra y libertad” and then #HurricaneMaría happened.
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 22, 2019
It was clear that days after the hurricane, @realDonaldTrump and the @GOP were going to let Puerto Ricans die, @CarmenYulinCruz says right now in #Caguas. Also says that @ricardorossello and @RepJenniffer were not speaking out against Trump.
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 22, 2019
.@CarmenYulinCruz goes hard at @ricardorossello right now about his administration’s post-hurricane plan.
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 22, 2019
“I don’t like to say this, but #PuertoRico is a colony,” @CarmenYulinCruz says. “We can’t make our own decisions.”
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 22, 2019
.@CarmenYulinCruz says that Jones Act must be eliminated completely #PuertoRico
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 22, 2019
“This is the country where everyone wants to change things but nothing ever changes,” @CarmenYulinCruz #PuertoRico
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 22, 2019
“You have to eliminate the Fiscal Control Board,” @CarmenYulinCruz says #PuertoRico
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 22, 2019
“You have to declare the educational system like an essential service.
You have to declare the retirement system like an essential service,” @CarmenYulinCruz says #PuertoRico— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 22, 2019
.@CarmenYulinCruz says she supports a Free Associated State with dual citizenship: US and PR #PuertoRico
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 22, 2019
.@CarmenYulinCruz says the early roots of the PPD was an alliance of Puerto Ricans. Says that the island needs to go back to that.
“You have to strengthen democracy in Puerto Rico,” she says.#PuertoRico
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 22, 2019
And @CarmenYulinCruz officially announced her candidacy for Governor of #PuertoRico in 2020.
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 22, 2019
Important to note that Yulín Cruz’s announcement to run for the PPD slot will lead to a very intense primary for the PPD. For those who are new to politics of Puerto Rico, think progressive Dems competing against centrist ones.
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 22, 2019
[…] What About a Race Against Carmen Yulín Cruz? It wouldn’t even be close: Rosselló 40%, the current San Juan mayor would get 25%. Yulín Cruz did declare his candidacy for governor earlier this year. […]
You shouldn’t run again for mayor…cuz you are toxicity and negativity and shame and hatred. Need anger management class….