Venezuela’s 2025 Legislative and Regional Elections: Rolling Coverage

Venezuelans head to the polls this Sunday, May 25, to elect a new National Assembly, state governors and regional legislative councils. Read our electoral guide for information on the posts at stake, the participating political forces, and some races to keep an eye on.

The Venezuelanalysis on-the-ground team will provide regular updates as the vote unfolds. Coverage is also available on our Twitter/X, Instagram and TikTok channels.

11:45 PM | Sweeping victory for ruling coalition

The National Electoral Council (CNE) gave a press conference with the first results announcement. CNE Vice President Carlos Quintero announced a 42.6% turnout and a massive victory for the PSUV-led coalition with 82.7% of the total.

This should lead to an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly. In addition, the ruling alliance won 23 of 24 governorships, with Cojedes state the lone exception.

This closes our rolling coverage of the electoral process. Stay tuned to venezuelanalysis.com for reporting on this and all other Venezuela developments.

8:00 PM | The Essequibo vote

With voting over, it is now time to wait for the CNE to announce (preliminary) results.

One of the highlights of today’s elections, which was underlined by several officials, is the choosing of representatives from a would-be Guayana Esequiba state. This territory is the subject of a two-century-old dispute, first with the United Kingdom and now with Guyana.

Venezuela claims sovereignty over the resource-rich Essequibo Strip and aims to uphold the Geneva Agreement as a mechanism to solve the controversy. Today’s election of a governor and deputies will reinforce Venezuela’s position domestically, but is unlikely to change the reality on the ground since it is under Guyanese rule.

6:30 PM | The importance of community media

Antonio Gómez, a member of the Integrated System of Community Free and Alternative Media of Lara (SIMAC), talked to Venezuelanalysis about the importance of community media.

“We are connected w/ 31 community and alternative radio stations in an operation called Sovereign people: dignity in the streets,” he said. “Our people must be the creators of communication, b/c the private media distorts what is happening […] Community media represent a deeper expression of communication.”

Gómez’s radio station, Antena Libre, is located in the José Pío Tamayo Commune in Barquisimeto, Lara state.

6:00 PM | Poll closing in sight

Electoral Council President Elvis Amoroso gave a press conference minutes ago, announcing a one-hour extension in polling stations where there are still people queuing to vote.

The electoral official praised participation and the security operations to maintain peace in today’s vote.

4:52 PM | FA Minister Yván Gil describes the election as ‘unprecedented’ for its inclusion of the would-be Guayana Esequiba state

“Once again, we have witnessed the Venezuelan revolutionary democracy working to empower the people, with each individual rallying behind their chosen option,” said Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yván Gil after casting his vote in Caracas.

He highlighted that over 50 political parties and movements have nominated candidates for the National Assembly, state governors, and regional legislative councils. “This is a robust, strong, dynamic democracy, committed to giving greater power to the people.”

Gil also described these as “unprecedented elections,” noting that the country is electing authorities for the would-be Guayana Esequiba state. “We are fulfilling the mandate from the December 3, 2023, referendum,” where Venezuelans reaffirmed their sovereignty claim over the disputed Essequibo Strip.

3:45 PM | Caracas’ El Panal Commune: Voting for the Homeland 

Today, communards of El Panal Commune, nestled in Caracas’ vibrant 23 de Enero neighborhood, gathered not just to vote in the regional and legislative elections but to reaffirm their profound commitment to the homeland. In a display of community spirit, they’ve prepared a collective lunch to share as a symbol of resilience.

Communal Spokesperson Judith Guerra spoke with pride about the participation within their grassroots territory, highlighting, “There is a lot of awareness and a deep sense of responsibility among us.”

“We stand united in defending our Homeland from the anti-patriotic right-wing, the [US] blockade, and the criminalization of our migrants abroad,” Guerra emphasized.

3:24 PM | President Maduro: ‘We have defeated violence and terrorism’

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro voted earlier this afternoon in Caracas’ El Valle neighborhood, praising the peaceful electoral process.

“Once again, we have defeated the violence that terrorists had planned for the country,” Maduro told reporters, referring to an alleged far-right conspiracy to incite violence and destabilize the regional and legislative elections.

Maduro reassured that his government would recognize and respect all elected officials “regardless of their political party.”

“I extend my hand to work with whoever is elected governor in the 24 states of the country,” the president stated.

President Maduro likewise anticipated that an upcoming constitutional reform would also aim to “transform” Venezuela’s voting system. “The electoral power has to transform itself and begin to walk and speak the language of the people.”

Voting is currently underway across Venezuela. Citizens are electing 285 deputies for five-year terms, 24 state governors, and 260 members of regional legislative councils.

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1:15 PM | ‘When a people decide to be free, no one can stop them‘

Socialist Party leader and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello struck a defiant tone as he celebrated the Venezuelan people’s civic commitment and cast the election as exercise in the defense of the country’s sovereignty and claim over the Essequibo region.

“This isn’t just voting—it’s fighting against those who want to dominate us, who want to hand Venezuela over to foreign powers,” said Cabello in reference to the hardline opposition calls for a boycott.

Cabello praised the commitment by Venezuelans to take part in the election, and mentioned the image of a group of voters that trekked through downpours that flooded streets and rivers in Tamacuro in order to exercise their democratic rights.

“No one can stop our people. Not sanctions, nor blockades, nor persecution – because when a people decide to be free, no one can stop them,” said the Socialist Party leader.

Cabello also framed the Essequibo election as a pivotal moment in Venezuela’s territorial dispute with neighboring Guyana.

12:15 PM | Opposition forces call for participation

Different anti-government coalitions have urged supporters to go out and vote, defying the far-right’s abstention calls.

Former presidential candidates Henrique Capriles and Antonio Ecarri, running for National Assembly seats on different lists, stated that a lack of participation only benefits the pro-government coalition. “Abstention has never accomplished anything, it only fuels despair,” Ecarri told reporters after voting.

The Zulia governorship might be the opposition’s strongest field, with veteran politician Manuel Rosales running for re-election.

11:30 AM | People and their polling centers

Far-right leader María Corina Machado called for a boycott of today’s election. While working-class polling stations have steady lines, turnout in Caracas’ wealthier areas appears lower.

Specs about today’s elections: parties and process

A total of 36 national political parties feature on the ballot alongside 10 regional ones and 6 indigenous organizations. The Great Patriotic Pole (GPP) groups the ruling United Socialist Party (PSUV) and 12 allied organizations.

The GPP ran a hybrid process combining grassroots assemblies and leadership decisions to fill out its candidate lists.

National Assembly candidate Oliver Rivas said to VA: “As outlined by President Nicolás Maduro and the leadership of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, the process of choosing the candidates was a hybrid one because it combined grassroots participation, not just from the PSUV, but also from the broader front of the Simón Bolívar Great Patriotic Pole [Chavista parties block]. Open assemblies were held in every barrio across the country in March. In the assemblies, people nominated those they saw fit for top leadership roles at state-level legislative councils, as governors, or as National Assembly deputies.”

Rivas added: “These nominations were then complemented by polls, evaluation processes, and tactical assessments conducted by the party’s leadership. Finally, after determining who was most suitable for each post, the PSUV submitted its candidates to the National Electoral Council.”

9:00 AM | CNE rector Rosalba Gil report

National Electoral Council rector Rosalba Gil reported that 100% of voting station officials are at their posts and 95% of polling booths were activated at 8:30 AM.

In polling centers around the country, people are lining up to exercise their vote.

7:00 AM | Polls open

Welcome to Venezuelanalysis’ rolling coverage of Venezuela’s regional and legislative elections. Over 15 thousand polling stations across the country began to open at 6 AM. With the Socialist Party and allies competing against several opposition factions, all eyes are on turnout. Watch this space for updates throughout the day.