Tatito Hernández


Rafael "Tatito" Hernández Montañez is a Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party. He is also a Democrat. He has been a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives since 2009, representing District 11, which includes the town of Dorado and parts of the towns of Vega Alta and Vega Baja. In December 2019, Tatito Hernández endorsed former Vice President and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden and has served as co-chair on his 2020 presidential campaign "Puerto Rico for Biden Leadership Committee".

Early life and education

Rafael "Tatito" Hernández was born April 14, 1972 in Dorado. He received a Bachelor of Science in Surveying and Cartography from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico. To strengthen his preparation, both on an academic and professional level, Hernandez Montañez took several courses such as origin, processes and analysis of loans mortgage in the Mortgage Bankers School and brokerage of real estate at the Alberto Hernandez Real State School. He served in the United States Navy Reserve for eight years.

Political career

He first ran for the House under the Popular Democratic Party column in 2008, the year of the opposing New Progressive Party's largest landslide election in history. Even though he was not elected as a district representative, the State Elections Commission certified him as an add-on at-large representative under the provisions of the Puerto Rico Constitution that provide for the certification of add-on legislators when the minority falls short in electing 17 members of the House. Once certified, he enjoyed all the privileges of an elected At-Large representative during that term.
In 2012, the Popular Democratic Party renominated Hernández for the general election and was elected outright as District 11's representative, winning with 48.83% of the votes in a three-way race.