In Puerto Rico, analyst Luis Dávila Colón stated that Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz should soon declare his candidacy, or the New Progressive Party (PNP) will have to close ranks around another aspirant, amid pressure from mayors of the party. Dávila Colón explained that time is of the essence, as Rivera Schatz would need months to raise funds to compete with Governor Jenniffer González’s resources.
The statement comes after Camuy Mayor and President of the Mayors’ Federation, Gabriel Hernández, asked the PNP to reflect on its candidate selection for the upcoming elections. According to Dávila Colón, there is already tension among the 39 PNP mayors, who are pressing the party to review its strategy. Rivera Schatz recently called to combat corruption within the party, even if it’s costly.
Dávila Colón believes these statements may foreshadow a possible primary within the PNP and the need for the party to 'clean up'.