Local Elections Coming in 2026 — Contested Races in Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca

Municipal elections are approaching in Ecuador, and the outcomes will directly affect the cities where expats live, work, and do business.

What Is Being Decided

Ecuador's 2026 local elections (elecciones seccionales) will fill positions including:

• Mayors (Alcaldes) of all 221 cantons
• Provincial Prefects (Prefectos) of all 24 provinces
• City Council members (Concejales)
• Rural parish board members (Vocales de juntas parroquiales)

These are the officials who control local infrastructure, zoning, transit, public safety, utilities, and municipal taxes — the decisions that most directly affect daily life.

Key Races to Watch

Quito

Quito's mayoral race is highly contested, with multiple candidates vying to replace the current administration. Key issues include public transit expansion (the Quito Metro is now operational but still expanding), urban security, and management of the city's growing informal economy. The capital's 2.7 million residents — including a significant expat community in the northern valleys — will be watching closely.

Guayaquil

Guayaquil's election carries outsized importance given the city's security crisis. Voters want answers on crime, extortion, and public safety. The incoming mayor will inherit a city under curfew and a business community demanding better conditions. The port city's economic significance — it generates roughly a third of Ecuador's GDP — makes this race nationally consequential.

Cuenca

Cuenca's mayoral race matters to the largest per-capita expat community in Ecuador. Key local issues include road infrastructure, the long-delayed tram system improvements, water and sewer service expansion, and management of the city's UNESCO World Heritage historic center. The new mayor will also set the tone for how the city engages with its foreign resident population — a group that contributes significantly to the local economy but has no voting rights.

The Political Landscape

Latinoamerica21 reports that Ecuador's political landscape remains deeply fragmented, with no single party likely to sweep municipal races nationwide. President Noboa's movement will compete against traditional parties, leftist coalitions, and independent candidates in most jurisdictions.

Local elections in Ecuador tend to be more personality-driven and less ideological than national contests. Candidates run on specific municipal issues — roads, water, transit, markets — rather than grand national narratives. This can be both an advantage (practical governance) and a risk (populist promises without fiscal backing).

What This Means for Expats

• Municipal governance affects you more than national politics. Your mayor decides whether roads get fixed, whether your neighborhood gets reliable water, whether transit improves, and how property taxes are assessed. Pay attention to local races in your city
• Expats cannot vote in Ecuadorian elections unless they hold Ecuadorian citizenship. However, you can engage through community organizations, attend candidate forums, and make your priorities known to candidates who seek community support
• Expect campaign disruptions. Ecuadorian campaigns involve rallies, caravans, loudspeaker trucks, and street events. In the weeks before the election, expect noise, traffic disruptions, and increased political activity in public spaces
• Election day is typically a dry day — no alcohol sales for 24-48 hours around voting. Plan accordingly
• The results will shape your city's direction for the next four years. Whether it is Cuenca's infrastructure plans, Quito's transit expansion, or Guayaquil's security strategy, the mayor who wins will set the agenda on issues that affect your quality of life

Source: Latinoamerica21