Lima mayor race too close to call as ballots reviewed
Former Lima Mayor Rafael López Aliaga leads the race for Peru's capital by about 44,900 votes after Sunday's local elections. About 400,000 votes on 1,924 disputed tally sheets are still under review. There is no runoff for Lima mayor, so the review will decide who runs a city of more than 7 million voters.
The race to run Peru's capital is down to a sliver. With all tally sheets processed, Renovación Popular, the party led in Lima by Rafael López Aliaga, had 27.703% of the vote, La República reported. Avanza País, with candidate Francis Allison, had 26.841%.
That is a gap of 44,921 votes. But the count is not over. Election officials sent 1,924 tally sheets to special electoral juries for review because of problems or challenges. La República said those sheets hold about 400,000 votes, more than enough to flip the result.
Somos Perú, with candidate Carlos Bruce, ran third at about 15.1%. Podemos Perú, led in Lima by Daniel Urresti, was fourth with about 8%, Infobae reported.
Lima does not hold a runoff for mayor. The list with the most votes wins outright, the business daily Gestión explained. More than 7 million people were eligible to vote in the capital. The winner takes office Jan. 1, 2027, for a term that runs through 2030.
The timeline could stretch for weeks. Roberto Burneo, president of Peru's national election board, said recounts can run until Oct. 28. "We estimate that in the first days of November we would already have results" for regional governments, and perhaps local ones, he said, according to La República.
López Aliaga is a familiar name. He was elected Lima mayor and took office in 2023, then quit in 2025 to run for president, Gestión reported. Renzo Reggiardo has run the city since Oct. 13, 2025.
Sunday's vote was huge. Peruvians chose 13,148 local and regional officials in all, from regional governors to district council members, Gestión said.
Some regions face a second round. A candidate for regional governor needs at least 30% of valid votes to win outright. If no one gets there, the top two meet in a runoff on Nov. 29, the broadcaster ATV reported. ATV's exit polls showed several regions, including Áncash, La Libertad and Piura, with leaders below that mark.
What we know: Renovación Popular narrowly leads in Lima, and reviewed ballots will decide the race.
What we don't: Who wins Lima, and how many regions will need a Nov. 29 runoff.
Where outlets agree La República, Infobae and Gestión all report Renovación Popular ahead with 27.703% to Avanza País's 26.841% once tally sheets were processed.
Where they differ Renovación Popular holds a lead of about 44,900 votes, but La República reports roughly 400,000 votes on disputed sheets that could still change the winner.