7 candidates competing in Bolivia’s high-stakes presidential election

Recent polling by Ipsos CIESMORI puts businessman Samuel Doria Medina in the lead with 19.1% support, trailed by Jorge Quiroga (18.4%), Andrónico Rodríguez (14.2%) and Manfred Reyes Villa (7.9%).

Here are the seven contenders to watch:

Samuel Doria Medina

At 66, centre-right social democrat Samuel Doria Medina is one of Bolivia’s richest men and a familiar face in presidential politics. He has run for the top job three times before, in 2005, 2009, and 2014, without success. Owner of hotel chains and the country’s Burger King franchise, Doria Medina is positioning himself as a pro-business alternative. Polls put him in front as the election approaches.

Jorge ‘Tuto’ Quiroga

Jorge Quiroga, 65, is no stranger to Bolivia’s highest office, having served as president from 2001 to 2002. He began his political career as vice president to Hugo Banzer, the former dictator who returned to power via the ballot box in 1997. A right-wing politician with decades in public service, Quiroga’s résumé includes terms as president of Congress, finance minister, and leader of the opposition. He is known for his ties to international policy circles, including a stint as a Woodrow Wilson Scholar.

Andrónico Rodríguez

At 36, Andrónico Rodríguez is the youngest major contender and the only leftist leading in the polls. A cocalero activist, political scientist, and trade unionist, he serves as president of the Senate and is vice president of Evo Morales’ coca-farming union. Running under the Alianza Popular ticket, Rodríguez represents a younger generation of Movement for Socialism (MAS)-aligned politicians seeking to retain the party’s influence.

Eduardo del Castillo

Carlos Eduardo del Castillo del Carpio served as Bolivia’s Minister of Interior from 2020 to May 2025. Known for his hardline security policies, he is the official candidate for MAS in this election. The 36-year-old lawyer by training, Del Castillo’s candidacy signals MAS’s intent to rally its base while appealing to voters concerned about public order.   

Eva Copa

Eva Copa, 38, shook Bolivia’s political scene in 2021 when she won the mayorship of El Alto, the country’s second-largest city, defeating her former party, MAS. She is running with the National Renovation Movement (Morena). A former president of the Senate and senator for La Paz, Copa is seen as a symbol of political independence and grassroots strength.

Manfred Reyes Villa

Manfred Reyes Villa is 70 years old and a seasoned political figure and the current mayor of Cochabamba. He previously served in the same role in the 1990s before a high-profile conviction in absentia in 2013 for “anti-economic conduct” related to a highway project. Despite legal controversies, he staged a political comeback in 2021, winning the mayoralty with 55% of the vote. He is running on the Autonomía Para Bolivia ticket. 

Rodrigo Paz Pereira

Rodrigo Paz Pereira, 58, is running with the Partido Demócrata Cristiano (Christian Democratic Party). He has served as senator for Tarija since 2020 and previously as mayor of the city from 2015 to 2020. The son of former president Jaime Paz Zamora, his political career spans nearly two decades, including roles in the Chamber of Deputies and as president of the Tarija Municipal Council.