Jara and Kast advance to runoff in Chile’s presidential race
Chile will hold a presidential runoff on December 14 after a fragmented first round failed to produce a majority winner
SANTIAGO, Chile (MNTV) – Chile will hold a presidential runoff on December 14 after a fragmented first round failed to produce a majority winner, setting up a stark ideological showdown between left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara and far-right contender Jose Antonio Kast.
With most ballots counted, Jara, a Communist Party member and former labour minister, led with 26.7% of the vote. Kast, head of the Republican Party and a prominent hardline conservative, followed with 24.1%. His immediate endorsement by Evelyn Matthei—who placed fifth—helped consolidate right-leaning support.
The runoff campaign will focus heavily on securing voters whose candidates did not advance. The combined first-round vote for right-leaning contenders exceeded that of the left, giving Kast an early strategic advantage.
Jara thanked supporters and urged them to rally around “a message of hope and the future,” while Kast vowed to tackle crime and immigration—issues he says the current government has failed to address.
President Gabriel Boric congratulated both finalists and encouraged a “high-standards” debate focused on real solutions for Chile’s most pressing challenges.
The vote is considered one of Chile’s most consequential in recent years, with public frustration over security, migration, and economic stability shaping the political landscape.
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