Cynthia Viteri seeks Guayaquil mayoralty with new party

Cynthia Viteri is seeking to reclaim the mayoralty of Guayaquil, this time under the banner of the Centro Democrático party. The organization was founded by former Guayas prefect Jimmy Jairala. The municipal elections are scheduled for November 29, 2026.

Viteri, who served as Guayaquil's first female mayor from 2019 to 2023 representing the Partido Social Cristiano (PSC), lost her bid for re-election in the last municipal elections to current mayor Aquiles Alvarez. Following this defeat, Viteri announced a temporary pause from partisan politics.

In this new political chapter, Centro Democrático has nominated Eustorgio Tandazo as its pre-candidate for the Prefecture of Guayas. Tandazo currently serves as the movement's vice president and is responsible for national policy execution and administration.

Political organizations must announce their pre-candidates by July 2. Viteri's political career began with the PSC, where she held significant roles including vice president of the National Congress, constituent assembly member, and national assembly member. She also made unsuccessful presidential bids in 2006 and 2017. Beyond her political career, Viteri, a lawyer by profession, also worked as a news anchor for various television networks.