Overview
- Jeannette Jara led the first round with about 26.8–26.9% of the vote, followed by José Antonio Kast with roughly 23.9%, advancing both to a Dec. 14 presidential runoff.
- Conservative forces quickly unified behind Kast, who is framing the contest as a plebiscite between two societal models to maximize a consolidated vote.
- Jara, seen as continuity with President Gabriel Boric’s government, must expand beyond the traditional left after her bloc’s weakest overall showing since the return to democracy.
- Public security, immigration and economic stagnation dominate the campaign conversation alongside broad dissatisfaction with the current administration.
- Moderate voters collectively outpolled both finalists but split across several candidates, and analysts say the eventual winner will need a pragmatic posture to work with a Congress where decisive votes lie in the center.