Archive · 17 Nov 2025
Chile's Far-Right Kast and Leftist Jara Advance to Runoff
Chile had a presidential election, but no one got enough votes to win right away.
So, the two candidates with the most votes, Jeannette Jara and José Antonio Kast, will have another election on December 14.
Jara is from the current government's coalition and wants to increase the minimum wage and boost social welfare.
Kast is from the far-right and promises to be tough on crime and immigration.
Many people in Chile are worried about safety and a lot of people coming into the country.
Kast wants to build walls and send people back, while Jara wants stronger gun controls and to lift banking secrecy laws to fight organized crime.
Chile's presidential election will go to a runoff on December 14 between Jeannette Jara and José Antonio Kast.
Jara, backed by the center-left coalition, leads with over 26% of the vote in the first round.
Kast, from the hard-right, follows closely with more than 24% of the vote.
Key issues driving the election are public concerns about security and illegal immigration.
Kast is expected to gain support from other eliminated right-wing candidates in the runoff election.
- Who
- Chilean voters, presidential candidates Jeannette Jara and José Antonio Kast
- What
- First round of a polarized presidential election with no outright winner, leading to a runoff election.
- When
- Sunday (first round vote), December 14 (runoff election)
- Where
- Chile
- Why
- Rising public concern over security and illegal immigration.
Jeannette Jara (Center-left coalition)
José Antonio Kast (Hard-right)
First Round Vote Count
Jeannette Jara (Center-left coalition)
Jeannette Jara received over 26% of the valid votes.
José Antonio Kast (Hard-right)
José Antonio Kast trailed closely with more than 24% of the valid votes.
Core Campaign Issues
Jeannette Jara (Center-left coalition)
Jara proposes increasing the minimum wage and boosting social welfare.
José Antonio Kast (Hard-right)
Kast's platform focuses on security and controlling immigration, promising to deport undocumented migrants and build border barriers.
Potential Runoff Momentum
Jeannette Jara (Center-left coalition)
Jara's vote share was below initial expectations.
José Antonio Kast (Hard-right)
Kast is expected to gain momentum in the runoff from supporters of other eliminated right-wing candidates.
- Leading Candidate (First Round)
- Jeannette Jara
- Second Place Candidate (First Round)
- José Antonio Kast
- Jara's Affiliation
- Center-left coalition, former labor minister
- Kast's Affiliation
- Hard-right, proposes tough immigration policies
- Key Election Issues
- Security, illegal immigration
- Runoff Election Date
- December 14
- Voting Status
- First round results with nearly 80% of votes counted
Sources
Chile votes today to elect next President in Left vs Right fight over crime, immigration
Chile votes in tense election as far-right ‘iron fist’ message gains traction
Chile votes in presidential poll as right wing eyes return to power after 1990
Leftist Jara leads Chile presidential race, far-right’s Kast favored for run-off
Leftist Jara leads Chile’s presidential election in early count
Chilean leftist Jara narrowly leads far-right’s Kast in first round presidential vote
Chile's presidential poll heads to a December runoff as race between left & far-right remains close
Chilean leftist Jara narrowly leads far-right’s Kast in first round presidential vote
Communism vs far-right—No clear winner in Chile presidential election; Jeannette Jara, José Kast to face off next month