Chile Communist Jara scores blowout win in presidential primary

Matthew Malinowski and Valentina Fuentes, Bloomberg News on Jun 29, 2025

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Chilean communist Jeannette Jara won the primary vote for left-wing presidential candidates on Sunday, vaulting past a more moderate favorite in a surprisingly strong last-minute surge.

Former Labor Minister Jara got 60.5% of the vote, followed by onetime Interior Minister Carolina Toha with 27.7%, electoral body Servel reported with 93.7% of ballots counted. Gonzalo Winter won 9% and Jaime Mulet garnered 2.8%.

Jara still faces an uphill battle to winning the nation’s top job given that the current leftist administration enjoys little support and voters are fretting over crime and clandestine migration — both of which are strong points for the conservative opposition. At stake is the leadership of one of Latin America’s richest economies, which is facing challenges including weak growth and high unemployment. Local stocks have soared this year on bets of a shift to a more business-friendly head of state after the election.

The Communist Party contender rode momentum into today’s primary with her charisma, connection with the masses and smart social media campaign. Her rise also coincided with a lack of organization among Toha’s followers and weakness in the ruling Frente Amplio party, which backed Winter.

While Jara’s personality makes her a very good candidate, many people in Chile still find it hard to vote for a communist, analysts said at a round-table at Bloomberg’s Santiago office on Wednesday.

Jara now advances to the Nov. 16 first round presidential vote, where she is seen as being less competitive than Toha against right-wing favorites Jose Antonio Kast — an ultraconservative former lawmaker who’s run for head of state twice before — and also Evelyn Matthei — a more moderate candidate who’s been senator, labor minister and mayor.

All polls indicate the right-wing will regain power in this year’s vote.

The run-off, if needed, will then take place on Dec. 14. Election laws forbid consecutive terms for any president, meaning current head of state Gabriel Boric cannot run for reelection.