Wanda Vázquez Garced

Wanda Vázquez Garced, born on July 9, 1960, is a prominent Puerto Rican attorney and politician who made history by serving as the governor of Puerto Rico from 2019 to 2021. She is recognized as the second female governor of the island, following Sila María Calderón, and is a member of both the New Progressive Party (PNP) and the Republican Party of Puerto Rico.

Her political journey took a significant turn when she was constitutionally appointed to the governorship after the resignation of Ricardo Roselló. This appointment followed the judicial annulment of Pedro Pierluisi's assumption of the office, a decision that stemmed from the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico's ruling in the case of Senado de Puerto Rico v. Hon. Pedro R. Pierluisi. This landmark ruling reinforced the constitutional provisions for government succession, highlighting Vázquez Garced's pivotal role in Puerto Rican politics.

Despite her historic appointment, Vázquez Garced faced challenges in securing the PNP gubernatorial nomination for the 2020 general elections, ultimately losing to Pedro Pierluisi. Her tenure was marred by controversy, culminating in her arrest by the FBI on August 4, 2022, on charges of corruption related to her campaign. She was accused of offering to appoint a financial regulator in exchange for campaign donations.

On August 27, 2025, Vázquez Garced made headlines again by pleading guilty to a campaign finance violation, becoming the first former governor of Puerto Rico to do so. She was expected to be sentenced on October 15, 2025. In a surprising turn of events, she, along with her co-conspirators, received a pardon from President Donald Trump in 2026 after a significant political donation was made to a committee supporting Trump.