[3] Before the election year, the constitution of Puerto Rico provides for any qualified person to present their candidacy for a specific position.

Incumbent Governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuño, announced his candidacy for reelection in October 2011.

[7] Former Electoral Commissioner Juan Dalmau Ramírez, announced his candidacy for the Puerto Rican Independence Party.

A week later, he was replaced by Attorney Arturo Hernández, who was formerly president of the Puerto Rico Bar Association.

The campaign of the main opposing party, the PPD, focused mostly on the problems of crime, unemployment, and high utility costs, attributing them to the failure of the incumbent governor, Luis Fortuño, from the PNP.

[13] The PNP, on the other hand, focused mostly on the lack of experience of the PPD candidate, Alejandro García Padilla.

The Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party (PPR) attacked the alleged classism and social inequality of the current government,[15] while the Working People's Party (PPT) advocated for a government more attuned to the working class.

[17] In the morning of November 7, 2012, Fortuño conceded the election to Alejandro García Padilla, just as the last votes were being counted.

The incumbent Pedro Pierluisi from the PNP defeated the candidate from the PPD, Rafael Cox Alomar.

Pierluisi managed to be reelected, despite the fact that his ballot partner, Governor Fortuño, lost against the PPD candidate.

One of the most notable races featured PPD candidate Carmen Yulín Cruz defeating incumbent Jorge Santini (PNP) for the mayoralty of the capital city of San Juan after 12 years in the seat.