Pedro Pierluisi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pedro Pierluisi
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| Governor of Puerto Rico | |
| In office January 2, 2021 – January 2, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Wanda Vázquez Garced |
| Succeeded by | Jenniffer González |
| In office August 2, 2019 – August 7, 2019 De facto |
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| Preceded by | Ricardo Rosselló |
| Succeeded by | Wanda Vázquez Garced |
| Secretary of State of Puerto Rico | |
| In office July 31, 2019 – August 2, 2019 Acting |
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| Preceded by | María Marcano de León (acting) |
| Succeeded by | María Marcano de León (acting) |
| Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico | |
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Luis Fortuño |
| Succeeded by | Jenniffer González |
| Secretary of Justice of Puerto Rico | |
| In office January 2, 1993 – January 2, 1997 |
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| Governor | Pedro Rosselló |
| Preceded by | Héctor Rivera Cruz |
| Succeeded by | José Fuentes Agostini |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Pedro Rafael Pierluisi
April 26, 1959 San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Political party | New Progressive |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic |
| Spouses | María Rojo (1981–1998) María Carrión (2007–2019) Fabiola Ansótegui (m. 2024) |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | José Jaime Pierluisi (brother) |
| Education | Tulane University (BA) George Washington University (JD) |
Pedro Rafael Pierluisi Urrutia (born April 26, 1959) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as the Governor of Puerto Rico from 2021 to 2025. Before that, he was the acting governor for a few days in August 2019.
Pierluisi is a member of the New Progressive Party and the Democratic Party. He also served as Secretary of State of Puerto Rico in 2019. From 2009 to 2017, he was the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. He also served as Secretary of Justice of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 1997.
In the 2024 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election, Pierluisi did not win the nomination from his party. Jenniffer González-Colón was chosen instead.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Pedro Pierluisi was born on April 26, 1959, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His parents were Doris Urrutia and Jorge Pierluisi Diaz. His father was a former Secretary of Housing of Puerto Rico.
He went to Colegio Marista Guaynabo and finished in 1977. In 1981, he earned a degree in American History from Tulane University. He then got his law degree from George Washington University Law School in 1984.
While at Tulane, he led the Puerto Rico Statehood Students Association chapter. At George Washington University, he was president of the Law Society International. During his studies, he also worked as an intern for Baltasar Corrada del Río, who was then the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico.
Professional Career
Pierluisi started his law career in Washington, D.C. He worked there as a private attorney from 1984 to 1990. He helped represent the Government of Peru in a big lawsuit. This case was against the Hunt Brothers for trying to control the silver market. After that, he practiced law in Puerto Rico from 1990 until 1993.
Political Journey
Starting in Politics
In 1993, Governor Pedro Rossello asked Pierluisi to become Puerto Rico's Secretary of Justice. The Puerto Rican legislature approved his nomination without any objections.
Secretary of Justice
As Secretary of Justice, Pierluisi worked with President Bill Clinton's team. They worked together on a law called the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. Pierluisi finished his term as Attorney General in January 1997.
Resident Commissioner
On May 18, 2007, Pedro Pierluisi announced he would run for Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. This role is Puerto Rico's only representative in the U.S. Congress. He won the election in 2008 by a large number of votes.
He was part of the New Progressive Party team. He supported Barack Obama for president and helped with Obama's campaign in Puerto Rico.
As Resident Commissioner, Pierluisi worked on important laws. He introduced a bill to let Puerto Rico vote on its political future. This bill passed in the House of Representatives but not in the Senate. He also tried to help Puerto Rico's government-owned companies file for bankruptcy.
On May 15, 2013, Pierluisi introduced a bill to make Puerto Rico a U.S. state.
In 2015, Pedro Pierluisi decided to run for Governor of Puerto Rico. However, he lost in the primary elections in 2016 to Ricky Rosselló. Rosselló then became the governor.
Committee Work in Congress
While in the U.S. House of Representatives, Pierluisi served on several important committees:
- Committee on the Judiciary (2009-2016)
- Committee on Natural Resources (2009-2016)
- Committee on Education and the Workforce (2009-2010)
- Committee on Ethics (2011-2014)
Becoming Governor in 2019
In August 2019, Pierluisi briefly served as the acting governor of Puerto Rico. This happened after Governor Ricardo Rosselló resigned due to public protests. Rosselló nominated Pierluisi to be the Secretary of State of Puerto Rico.
Pierluisi was sworn in as governor on August 2, 2019. However, his appointment was challenged in court. The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico ruled that his swearing-in was not constitutional. This meant he could not continue as governor. He served for only five days, making him the shortest-serving governor in Puerto Rico's history.
2020 Elections
On August 16, 2020, Pierluisi won his party's primary election for governor. He defeated the sitting governor, Wanda Vázquez Garced. On November 3, 2020, Pierluisi was elected as the Governor of Puerto Rico. He received about 32.9% of the votes.
He took the oath of office on January 2, 2021. There was a private ceremony and then a public one at the Capitol of Puerto Rico.
Governor of Puerto Rico
Pedro Pierluisi became Governor of Puerto Rico on January 2, 2021. The ceremony had fewer people than usual because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, attended.
As governor, Pierluisi supported Puerto Rico becoming a U.S. state. He also took action on important issues.
On January 24, 2021, he declared a state of emergency for gender-based violence. This was to help protect victims and strengthen legal responses.
He also addressed issues with ferry services to the islands of Vieques and Culebra. He said the emergency for these services would continue until 2022.
During his time as governor, there was a disagreement about his choice for Secretary of Education. The House of Representatives did not approve the nomination, and he later withdrew it.
Pierluisi also defended the government's contract with LUMA Energy. He believed privatizing the power grid was best for the island.
In February 2023, Pedro Pierluisi spoke in Washington D.C. He asked the U.S. Senate to approve a bill. This bill would let Puerto Rico vote on becoming a U.S. state or gaining independence. In June 2024, he had another hearing in the Senate about a similar bill.
2024 Elections
On March 20, 2022, Governor Pedro Pierluisi announced he would run for a second term. He said Puerto Rico was moving forward and that he would defeat the PDP.
Primary Election Loss
On June 2, 2024, Pedro Pierluisi lost the primary election to Jenniffer González Colón. This meant he would not be the candidate for governor for the New Progressive Party.
After Governorship
In June 2025, Pedro Pierluisi attended a public event. It was the 2025 Annual Convention of the Puerto Rico Bar Association. This was his first public appearance as a practicing attorney since leaving office.
Personal Life
Governor Pierluisi has four adult children: Antonio, Miguel, Rafael, and Jacqueline. He also has five grandchildren.
He was first married to María Eugenia Rojo in 1981. They later divorced. In 2007, he married María Elena Carrión, but they divorced in 2019. He is now married to attorney Fabiola Ansótegui. They got married in December 2024.
His father, Jorge Pierluisi, was the Secretary of Puerto Rico's Housing Department. His brother, José Jaime Pierluisi, passed away in 1994. His sister, Caridad Pierluisi, has worked as an advisor to him.
Honors
See also
In Spanish: Pedro Pierluisi para niños
