José Antonio Kast has won Chile’s latest presidential election. The race went to a second-round runoff held on 14 December 2025, where he defeated left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara by a wide margin.
Winner and vote share
José Antonio Kast, leader of the right-wing Republican Party, won the runoff with about 58% of the vote, becoming Chile’s next president. Jeannette Jara, from the ruling left/center-left coalition and a member of the Communist Party, obtained just over 41%.
This result is one of the strongest showings for a presidential winner since Chile’s return to democracy, both in percentage terms and in total votes cast for the winning candidate. Kast’s vote total exceeded 7 million, the highest ever recorded for a presidential candidate in Chile.
Political context
Kast’s victory marks a sharp shift to the right in Chilean politics after the government of outgoing president Gabriel Boric, who could not seek immediate re-election under Chilean law. Voters’ concerns over rising crime, immigration, and economic difficulties were central issues, and Kast campaigned on a hardline security and immigration platform.
The election followed a first round on 16 November 2025, where Jara placed first with roughly 26–27% and Kast second with about 24%, sending both to the runoff. Despite that initial order, Kast consolidated support from other right-wing candidates between rounds, allowing him to win decisively in December.