• Argentina

Legislative Elections Mark a New Political Landscape in the Province of Buenos Aires

This Sunday, legislative elections were held in the province of Buenos Aires, where 46 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 23 in the Senate were renewed, along with city councilors and school board members. The day ended with a victory for Fuerza Patria, the electoral coalition aligned with Governor Axel Kicillof, which secured 47.28% of the votes and prevailed in six of the eight electoral sections.

La Libertad Avanza (LLA) came in second with 33.71%, followed by Somos Buenos Aires with 5.25% and the left with 4.37%. Voter turnout reached 60.98%.

Looking at the results by electoral section, Fuerza Patria stood out by defeating La Libertad Avanza both in Section III (54% vs. 28.43%) and Section I (47.49% vs. 36.88%). The latter is the second-largest in terms of registered voters, where polls had indicated high competitiveness and polarization between the two main electoral coalitions.

La Libertad Avanza, in turn, won in Sections V and VI, which include key municipalities with significant electoral weight and a longstanding anti-Peronist tradition, such as Bahía Blanca and General Pueyrredón. In the latter, Mayor Guillermo Montenegro, a PRO leader, headed the libertarian ballot as the top candidate for provincial senator.

Following the victory, Governor Axel Kicillof addressed supporters, declaring the elections a “resounding victory” for Fuerza Patria. Meanwhile, from the libertarian headquarters, President Javier Milei acknowledged the defeat but argued that the results “set the floor for us and the ceiling for them.” He added, “There is no room to repeat mistakes—we must correct them all looking forward,” while insisting that “the course on which we were elected in 2023 will not change; on the contrary, it will be reinforced.”

These elections marked a milestone: for the first time in the province, they were held separately from the national elections. This institutional change had direct effects on the political landscape, strengthening candidates with strong local ties while weakening those with a national agenda or less established presence.

With its new composition, the Buenos Aires provincial legislature is set to become an arena of greater relevance in Argentine politics. The challenge will be to sustain a public debate focused on the demands of Buenos Aires citizens and to build a truly provincial legislative agenda.