Janet Jara Wins Primary as Chile’s Leftist Presidential Candidate
Chilean communist politician and former Labor Minister Janet Jara emerged victorious in the “progressive primary” on Sunday, becoming the presidential candidate for the incumbent leftist government in the upcoming general election set for November 16.
This victory marks the first time in 25 years that the Chilean Communist Party has stood behind a presidential candidate.
On Sunday, Chile held a primary election that is part of the lead-up to November’s presidential and legislative elections. The “Unity for Chile” coalition, which includes several left-wing parties allied with current President Gabriel Borik, was the only group participating in the primary.
This coalition features the Chilean Communist Party, Borik’s Broad Front party, the Democrats, and the Social Green Regionalism Federation. Borik, who is in office until March 2026, cannot run for re-election under Chile’s constitution.
The central-right coalition, “Let’s go Chile,” opted out of the primary following unsuccessful negotiations involving Conservative candidate Jose Antonio Kast and National Libertarian Party candidate Johannes Kaiser. Evelyn Matthei is set to represent the Union in the elections, while Kast and Kaiser have publicly confirmed their presidential bids.
Jara had previously served as Borik’s Labor Minister from March 2022 until April 2025. Her campaign faced competition from former Home Minister Carolina Tohá, along with leftist MPs Gonzalo Winter and Jaime Mañalich. Preliminary results indicate Jara received 60.16% of the votes, compared to Tohá’s 28.07%, Winter’s 9.02%, and Mañalich’s 2.74%.
Unlike typical Chilean elections where voting is mandatory, this primary was voluntary and saw low participation. According to the National Electoral Service (Servel), voter turnout was around 1.372 million out of a total of over 15.4 million registered voters.
In her victory speech, Jara expressed hopes for a new chapter in Chilean politics. She emphasized the importance of unity in facing challenges from the extreme right, thanking her supporters and expressing optimism for the future.
Jara also praised women who defy barriers through talent and effort. She made a point not to deliver “empty promises,” cautioning against the global rise of populism. She voiced her commitment to independence in foreign policy, stressing her opposition to submission to foreign governments.
She acknowledged the growing concern over ultra-right populism, reflecting on the nature of discourse that avoids substantive solutions.
President Borik congratulated Jara on her success, emphasizing the importance of progressive leadership and collaboration in facing the forthcoming challenges.
The upcoming election features five presidential candidates, with Jara representing the current government. Evelyn Matthei will stand for the Chilean Union, while José Antonio Kast, Johannes Kaiser, and Franco Parisi represent conservative and independent parties. As the election approaches, other candidates are still trying to rally enough support to participate. Should no candidate secure over 50% in the November 16 election, a runoff will occur between the top two candidates on December 14.
