Chile holds presidential election with Communist and far-right candidates favored for runoff
Chileans are voting in a presidential election today, with officialist Jeannette Jara (Communist Party) and far-right José Antonio Kast favored to advance to a December runoff.
November 16, 2025 - 06:02 PM ET • 2 min read
Chile is holding presidential and legislative elections today, Sunday, November 16, with more than 15 million citizens eligible to vote for the successor to President Gabriel Boric. This election is the first since 2012 to feature mandatory voting for all registered citizens.
The race is dominated by two candidates positioned at opposite ends of the political spectrum: Jeannette Jara, the officialist candidate from the Communist Party, and José Antonio Kast of the far-right Republican Party. Polls and political analysts indicate that neither candidate is likely to secure the absolute majority required for an outright victory, making a runoff election on December 14 highly probable.
Ms. Jara, 51, who previously served as Minister of Labor and Social Security under President Boric, is generally leading the polls for the first round. She represents the entire left and center-left pact, marking the first time in over 25 years that a Communist Party militant has led such a coalition in a presidential race. Her platform focuses on development centered on internal demand, dignified neighborhoods, and full citizenship.
After casting her ballot in Santiago, Ms. Jara urged the public to deposit "an informed vote" to prevent the arrival of the far right and the return of "dark times of the dictatorship."
Mr. Kast, who lost the 2021 runoff election to Boric, is making his third attempt at the presidency and is favored to advance to the second round. He is joined on the right by Johannes Kaiser of the National Libertarian Party, who is also a significant contender.
Both Mr. Kast and Mr. Kaiser have openly expressed admiration for Argentine President Javier Milei, who has become an unavoidable reference point in the local political debate. Mr. Kast described the Argentine leader as "an inspiration and a model to follow" for Chile.
Despite the ideological chasm, Ms. Jara addressed the potential relationship with Argentina should she win. She stated that while she holds very different views from President Milei, she would make every effort to ensure diplomatic relations are maintained through the proper channels.
Preliminary results from Chilean voting centers abroad showed Ms. Jara leading in New Zealand and South Korea. Meanwhile, Mr. Kaiser led in the United Arab Emirates, and Evelyn Matthei of Chile Vamos led in China.