Venezuelans search for their assigned polling stations to cast their votes in the presidential elections on July 28, 2024, in Caracas. Photo: Elías Ferrer.
Guacamaya, April 3, 2025. On Monday, the ruling-party bloc already presented its candidates for all 24 states in Venezuela. But who is running from the various opposition parties?
No candidacies have been formally announced yet, nor have alliances between factions been finalized. However, Guacamaya has gathered several names that may be under consideration, according to unofficial sources.
For the first time in history, gubernatorial elections will be held alongside the National Assembly elections. In this case, the candidates vying to lead the states will be the key figures, generating far more interest than the legislative chamber.
The National Electoral Council has not yet officially confirmed whether a gubernatorial candidate can also run for deputy, either on the regional or national list. This would not be prohibited under electoral law.
The pro-government bloc has already presented its candidates, with only 11 out of 19 PSUV governors seeking re-election. Several names would be new faces in national politics, with relatively little political weight so far. Only three are military officials.
For the first time, a governor and deputies will also be elected for the state of Guayana Esequiba, which will likely include the municipalities of Tumeremo, Gran Sabana, and Antonio Díaz.
Outside the pro-government camp, there is already a known coalition called the Democratic Alliance, which mainly includes parties intervened by Nicolás Maduro’s administration. Other opposition parties, such as Un Nuevo Tiempo, Lápiz, Fuerza Vecinal, and Henrique Capriles’ faction of Primero Justicia, may present unified candidates.
Notably, on April 2, the disqualification of Capriles—a former presidential candidate and ex-governor of Miranda—was lifted. In February, Maduro said he would like his former rival to run for election in the same state.
As of today, the names under consideration are as follows:
Miranda
- Eric Ondarroa (Lápiz)
- Henrique Capriles or Juan Requesens (Capriles’ Primero Justicia)
- David Uzcátegui (Fuerza Vecinal)
- Negal Morales (Acción Democrática – Democratic Alliance)
- David García (Primero Venezuela – Democratic Alliance)
Aragua
- Antonio Ecarri (Lápiz)
- Luis Eduardo Martínez (Democratic Alliance)
Carabobo
- César Oviol (Lápiz)
- Ydilio Abreu (Un Nuevo Tiempo)
- Armando Amengual (Avanzada Progresista – Democratic Alliance)
Amazonas
- Liborio Guarulla (Un Nuevo Tiempo)
- José Álvarez Caballero (Cambiemos – Democratic Alliance)
Anzoátegui
- Gilberto Román (Un Nuevo Tiempo)
- Manuel Ferreira (Fuerza Vecinal)
- José Brito (Primero Venezuela – Democratic Alliance)
- Pedro Pablo Fernández (COPEI – Democratic Alliance)
Apure
- Luis Lippa (Capriles’ Primero Justicia)
- Endrick Polanco (Acción Democrática – Democratic Alliance)
- Franklin Martínez (Soluciones – Democratic Alliance)
Barinas
- Sergio Garrido (Henri Ramos Allup’s Acción Democrática)
Bolívar
- Raúl Yusef (Un Nuevo Tiempo)
- Carlos Gibson (Independent)
Cojedes
- Alberto Galindez (Capriles’ Primero Justicia)
Delta Amacuro
- Javier Rosales (Independent)
- Larissa González (Democratic Alliance)
Falcón
- Javier Bertuci (El Cambio)
- Yorman Suárez (Cambiemos)
- Oscar García (Acción Democrática – Democratic Alliance)
Guárico
- Octavio Orta (Avanzada Progresista – Democratic Alliance)
- Magda Dumith (Acción Democrática – Democratic Alliance)
- Karam Khalil (Fuerza Vecinal)
La Guaira
- Rubén Meleán (Avanzada Progresista – Democratic Alliance)
Lara
- Ruy Medina (Independent)
- Monir Chirity (Avanzada Progresista – Democratic Alliance)
Mérida
- Alcides Monsalve (Acción Democrática – Democratic Alliance)
- Leonel Durán (Cambiemos – Democratic Alliance)
Monagas
- María Carvajal (Un Nuevo Tiempo)
- Hecmarys Varela (Acción Democrática – Democratic Alliance)
Nueva Esparta
- Morel Rodriguez (Fuerza Vecinal)
Portuguesa
- Valmore Betancourt (Democratic Alliance)
- Ornobis Abad (Independent)
Sucre
- María Elvira Alonso (MAS)
- José Luis Mata (Lápiz)
- Hermes García (Avanzada Progresista – Democratic Alliance)
- Francisco Pino (Democratic Alliance)
Táchira
- María Teresa Cantor (Lápiz)
- Wilmer Pérez (Un Nuevo Tiempo)
- Juan Carlos Palencia (Arepa – Democratic Alliance)
- Juan Carlos Alvarado (COPEI – Democratic Alliance)
Trujillo
- Iraly Guerrero (Avanzada Progresista – Democratic Alliance)
- Francisco Montilla (COPEI – Democratic Alliance)
Yaracuy
- Deiby Meza (Lápiz)
Zulia
- Manuel Rosales (Un Nuevo Tiempo)
