As of November 16, 2025, Chile’s presidential race has entered a crucial phase, with Jeanette Jara from the Communist Party (Partido Comunista) and José Antonio Kast from the far-right Partido Republicano emerging as the top two candidates. The country is set for a second-round runoff election on December 14, 2025, where the candidate with the most votes will secure the presidency, following an intense and divided race.
Election Results: Early Count
With approximately 70% of the votes counted, the current standings are as follows:
Jeanette Jara (Partido Comunista): 26.67%
José Antonio Kast (Partido Republicano): 24.19%
Franco Parisi (PDG): 19.22%
Johannes Kaiser (PNL): 13.94%
Evelyn Matthei (UDI): 12.89%
Although Jeanette Jara leads the pack, the results remain far from final. With the second-round elections looming, the political landscape is rife with uncertainty.
A Divided Race: Support Shifts and Endorsements
While Jara and Kast have secured the top spots, the race remains fluid, and much depends on the endorsements and support that will be distributed in the weeks leading up to the runoff.
Evelyn Matthei, the candidate from the conservative Unión Demócrata Independiente (UDI), has already publicly declared her support for José Antonio Kast, signaling her allegiance to the far-right camp. This endorsement is expected to bolster Kast’s chances, as it aligns him with a key section of Chile’s right-wing electorate.
Moreover, Johannes Kaiser, the candidate from the Partido de la Libertad (PNL), has also officially endorsed Kast. This is a significant development, as Kaiser’s voters, who represent a more libertarian conservative faction, are likely to swing in favor of Kast in the second round. Kaiser’s endorsement adds further momentum to the far-right candidate’s campaign and consolidates the right-wing support around him.
As a result, Kast is now positioned with a stronger coalition of right-wing endorsements, potentially giving him a broader base of support as he heads into the second round.
Franco Parisi, the third-place candidate from the People’s Party (PDG), has yet to announce whether he will formally endorse any of the two leading candidates. Parisi’s voters, many of whom lean toward populist and anti-establishment sentiments, will be a key group to watch in the coming weeks. Even if Parisi leans toward supporting Jara, the Communist Party candidate would still face a difficult challenge in securing a majority, especially with the strong backing Kast has already gathered.
This presidential election is the first in Chile’s history to feature a mandatory vote, a reform that came into effect after a major shift in electoral law. With 15.5 million voters registered out of Chile’s population of roughly 20 million, the electoral roll is substantial, and voter participation has been notably high.
The mandatory voting system also places additional pressure on the candidates to appeal to a broad cross-section of the electorate. This shift is especially significant in a country as politically diverse and polarized as Chile.
Another key factor in the election will be the vote of Chileans living abroad. Traditionally, Chileans in the diaspora tend to lean left, largely due to the historical impact of the Pinochet dictatorship. Many of the Chilean exiles who fled the regime during the 1970s and 1980s have remained politically loyal, and their vote has been a significant influence in previous elections.
José Antonio Kast’s open admiration for the late General Augusto Pinochet, the military dictator who ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990, has sparked controversy and polarizing debates. His statements and political views have made him a divisive figure, especially among Chileans abroad who associate the Pinochet regime with repression, human rights violations, and exile.