Puerto Rico Gov. Aníbal Acevedo Vilá conceded his defeat Tuesday evening, as early poll results showed him taking a beating in his race for reelection.
He was unseated by Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño, the island's nonvoting member of Congress. Fortuño, a Republican, is a statehood supporter.
Acevedo was indicted recently on more than 20 federal campaign finance fraud charges. He fought to keep his seat while Puerto Rico was mired in a recession, high unemployment, and an exodus of its middle class to Florida.
Early results showed Fortuño winning easily with 52 percent of the vote, compared to Acevedo's 11 percent, according to the Puerto Rico elections website.
"I would like this moment to congratulate the governor elect of Puerto Rico: Luis Fortuño," Acevedo said in his concession speech. "It was a tough battle against all the obstacles imaginable, and even the unimaginable."
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