Opposition candidates in Colombia emerged as the winners in the elections for mayors, governors, and regional lawmakers on Sunday. This defeat dealt a blow to President Gustavo Petro’s leftist coalition and is seen as a referendum on his government. Gustavo Petro, who became Colombia’s first leftist president in August 2022, has faced low poll ratings, and the outcome of these elections is expected to impact the 2026 presidential election. However, Petro is ineligible for reelection.
Gustavo Bolivar, the ruling coalition’s candidate in Bogota, secured third place in the mayoral race, considered one of the top government positions in the country. Bolivar labeled the result a “punishment vote,” reflecting public dissatisfaction with Petro’s government. This loss by Bolivar is seen as a powerful message against Petro’s presidency, even though the government has insisted that the vote does not reflect on the president.
Carlos Fernando Galan from the New Liberalism Party emerged victorious in the Bogota mayoral election, garnering nearly half of the total votes. In other major cities like Medellin and Cali, voters elected mayors who are known for being strong critics of President Petro.
Most candidates were supported by multi-party coalitions or ran as independent candidates with signatures from citizens. The winning candidates have promised to prioritize security improvements and promote job creation projects with the support of the private sector.
With nearly 39 million eligible voters and more than 125,000 candidates, the election largely proceeded without any major incidents. However, the National Registrar’s Office reported two municipalities where voting was suspended due to acts of violence.
These election results in Colombia send a clear message of disapproval towards President Petro’s government. The opposition candidates’ victory will likely shape the political landscape leading up to the 2026 presidential election. Petro’s low poll ratings and the voters’ demand for security and job creation projects were significant factors in this electoral outcome.
