Meeting with Great Patriotic Pole candidates led by President Nicolás Maduro. Photo: Great Patriotic Pole
Guacamaya, March 31, 2025. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has unveiled its list of candidates for the upcoming regional elections scheduled for May 25. The announcement was made during a meeting of the Great Patriotic Pole (GPP), led by President Nicolás Maduro, where the names of candidates competing across Venezuela’s 24 states were finalized.
New faces and re-elections
Out of the current 19 PSUV governors, only eleven will seek re-election. Among them are notable figures such as Freddy Bernal (Táchira), Rafael Lacava (Carabobo), Víctor Clark (Falcón), Primitivo Cedeño (Portuguesa), and José Luis Marcano (Anzoátegui). Meanwhile, in key states like Barinas, the candidate will be Adán Chávez, brother of the late Hugo Chávez and former governor of the state from 2008 to 2017.
In Aragua, Johana Sánchez will replace current governor Karina Carpio, while in Miranda, Elio Serrano—the acting governor—will be the official PSUV candidate. Notably, Nehil Villamizar has been nominated for the Esequibo territory, a disputed area with Guyana, marking the first time the Chavista movement has presented a candidate for this region.
Electoral context amidst crisis
These elections will take place amid political tensions following the controversial presidential elections of July 2024. The National Electoral Council (CNE) has faced criticism over irregularities in the electoral process, including delays in publishing the official schedule and issues with the automated nomination system.
On March 15, grassroots assemblies were held to define candidacies, but the lack of transparency in the process has raised concerns about the fairness of these elections. With only weeks remaining, opposition parties and international observers are closely monitoring preparations under a cloud of uncertainty.
Complete list of PSUV candidates by state:
- Amazonas: Miguel Rodríguez (re-election)
- Anzoátegui: José Luis Marcano (re-election)
- Apure: Wilmer Rodríguez (re-election)
- Aragua: Joana Sánchez
- Barinas: Adán Chávez
- Bolívar: Yulisbeth García (current mayor of Upata)
- Carabobo: Rafael Lacava (re-election)
- Cojedes: Jhon Moreno, current principal deputy for Cojedes in the National Assembly and member of Venezuela-Namibia Parliamentary Friendship Group and Contraloría Commission
- Delta Amacuro: Loa Tamaronis, current mayor of Tucupita
- Esequibo: Nehil Villamizar
- Falcón: Víctor Clark (re-election)
- Guárico: Donald Donaire
- Lara: Luis Reyes Reyes
- La Guaira: José Alejandro Terán (re-election)
- Mérida: Arnaldo Sánchez
- Miranda: Elio Serrano (acting governor)
- Monagas: Ernesto Luna (re-election)
- Nueva Esparta: Marisel Velázquez
- Portuguesa: Primitivo Cedeño (re-election)
- Sucre: Jhoanna Carrillo
- Táchira: Freddy Bernal (re-election)
- Trujillo: Gerardo Márquez (re-election)
- Yaracuy: Leonardo Intoci
- Zulia: Luis Caldera, current mayor of Mara municipality
