2008 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election

The 2008 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election took place on November 4, alongside the U.S. presidential election. It featured two main candidates: Luis Fortuño from the New Progressive Party (PNP), who advocated for statehood, and Alejandro García Padilla from the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), who supported maintaining Puerto Rico's current commonwealth status. Fortuño won the election, marking a shift in leadership and policies aimed at addressing the island's economic challenges. His victory reflected a significant political shift in Puerto Rico, aligning with statehood aspirations during a period of economic crisis.