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🇪🇨 Ecuador /Elections & Politics

Ecuador's Sectional Elections: Candidates Emerge for Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca Mayoral Races

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Documents & data New plan
  • Ecuador's electoral deadline for local elections is August 17, 2026.
  • Candidates are registering for mayoral positions in Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca, and for the Pichincha Prefecture.
  • The National Electoral Council has received over 27,000 candidacies nationwide.

Ecuador is nearing the deadline for candidate registrations for its upcoming sectional elections, set for August 17, 2026. As the 6:00 PM cutoff approaches, reports indicate a significant number of individuals are vying for mayoral positions in key cities like Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca, as well as for the Prefecture of Pichincha.

The deadline for submitting candidacies for the sectional elections will conclude this Monday, August 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM.

— El ComercioStating the critical deadline for candidate submissions.

As of Sunday morning, the National Electoral Council's system had recorded 27,215 candidacies across the country. This total includes 14,092 principal candidates and 13,123 alternates. Specifically for mayoral races, 878 candidates have submitted their applications. However, the submission of documentation does not guarantee a spot on the ballot; candidates must pass a formal qualification review with no pending appeals.

In Quito, nine candidates are reportedly seeking the mayor's office. Notable contenders include Harold Andrés Burbano Villarreal for Acción Democrática Nacional (ADN), Paul Desambla Cañadas for Movimiento Futuro, and Galo Vicente Almeida Garzón for Centro Democrático. Other candidates include Wilson Eduardo Merino Rivadeneira (Movimiento Imparables), Felipe Bernardo Jijón Nankervis (Partido Sociedad Patriótica), Jorge Homero Yunda Machado (Avanza), Linda Diana Romero Espinoza (Partido Social Cristiano), Carla Fernanda Larrea Falconí (CREO), and Christian Pabel Muñoz López representing the Ciudadana alliance.

Harold Burbano @HaroldBurbanoOk will lead the ADN project for the Mayor's Office, with the mission of connecting the capital's needs with a national vision of development, innovation and opportunities.

— AdnEcuadorOkDescribing the goals of a specific mayoral candidate in Quito.

For the Pichincha Prefecture, seven candidates have registered. Among them are Jorge Washington Pinto Dávila (Partido Sociedad Patriótica), Alexandro Tonello Carrera (Ciudadana alliance), Paola Giovanna Ubidia Burbano (ADN), Mishelle Elisa Calvache Fernandez (CREO), and Nicolle Carla Cevallos Romo (Avanza). The electoral process is ongoing, with candidacies listed in various stages of verification and finalization.

Pichincha needs a Prefect who will truly fight for our people! With determination, experience and much love for our province, today I accept the pre-candidacy for Prefect.

— Nicolle Carla Cevallos RomoExpressing commitment from a candidate for Pichincha Prefecture.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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