Downtown San Salvador. The El Salvador Elections 2024 marked a significant turning point in the country’s political history. Voters went to the polls in February and March to elect their president, members of parliament, and mayors.
The elections changed the political complexion of the country and certainly served to consolidate President Nayib Bukele’s position. To get a sense of just how significant the elections were, it’s necessary to understand how the government and political system of El Salvador works.
Voters saw some big changes in the elections, with fewer seats in the Legislative Assembly and a sharp drop in the number of municipalities. The ruling Nuevas Ideas party came out on top, while opposition parties struggled to gain support.
Presidential Election: Nayib Bukele Wins a Second Term
El Salvador held its presidential election on February 4, 2024. Nayib Bukele, from the New Ideas political party, won by a landslide, securing another five years as president.
Bukele took 84.7% of the valid votes, defeating five other presidential candidates. His closest rival, Manuel Flores of the FMLN, was way behind.
The election was international as Bukele sought re-election immediately, despite the historical constitutional provision against consecutive presidential terms. His candidacy arose from a contentious interpretation of that provision.
In 2021, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (the judges of which had been appointed by the Nuevas Ideas legislature) ruled that presidents could run for re-election in consecutive terms under certain conditions.
Bukele took six months off from his presidential duties before the election, leaving Claudia Rodríguez de Guevara in charge as acting president.
What influenced the presidential election?
Public security was the defining issue of the presidential campaign. Bukele’s government had declared a state of exception across the country in March 2022 in the wake of a sharp rise in gang-related killings.
The security measures resulted in a dramatic drop in reported homicides and gang activity. Many Salvadorans gave the administration credit for bringing safety back to communities that had been ravaged by violence for decades.
Human rights groups were also critical of the arbitrary detentions, lack of due process, and prison conditions. All of that formed part of the wider discussion around Bukele’s security policies.
Despite all that, Bukele had the broadest possible level of public support. His campaign was all about security, infrastructure, tourism, and the government’s efforts to change El Salvador’s image in the eyes of the world.
Presidential Election Results
| Candidate | Political Party | Vote Share |
|---|---|---|
| Nayib Bukele | Nuevas Ideas | 84.7% |
| Manuel Flores | FMLN | 6.4% |
| Joel Sánchez | ARENA | 5.6% |
| Luis Parada | Nuestro Tiempo | 2.0% |
| José Renderos | Fuerza Solidaria | 0.8% |
| Marina Murillo | Fraternidad Patriota Salvadoreña | 0.5% |
Bukele commenced his second presidential term on June 1, 2024. His victory reinforced the dominance of Nuevas Ideas and demonstrated the significant changes in Salvadoran politics since traditional parties held control over national elections.
Legislative Elections: Nuevas Ideas Secures a Supermajority
On February 4, 2024, Salvadorans voted to elect members of the Legislative Assembly. This election determined which parties would control the legislature for the term from 2024 to 2027.
One of the major changes was the number of seats in the legislature. Prior to the election, the legislature had approved a reform which reduced the Legislative Assembly from 84 to 60 members.
The Govt argued that a smaller legislature would lead to lower public expenditure and a more efficient government. The opposition warned that it would result in a reduction of representation and make it much harder for smaller parties to win seats.
Legislative Election Results
Nuevas Ideas took 54 of the 60 legislative seats (90% of the Assembly), and the other six went to four different parties.
| Political Party | Seats Won |
|---|---|
| Nuevas Ideas | 54 |
| ARENA | 2 |
| PCN | 2 |
| PDC | 1 |
| VAMOS | 1 |
| Total | 60 |
The outcome was another massive blow to El Salvador’s traditional political parties. ARENA and the FMLN had been the two dominant forces in national politics for decades after the civil war.
The FMLN (which was in power from 2009 to 2019) didn’t win a single seat in the legislature. ARENA only picked up two.
Nuevas Ideas had an overwhelming majority and thus had enormous legislative power. They could pass ordinary legislation and push through major institutional changes without needing the backing of the opposition.
What the Legislative Results Meant for El Salvador
The election served to further cement the relationship between the executive and the Legislative Assembly, enabling the President’s political agenda to move forward with very little opposition from the other side of the House.
Supporters saw the result as an opportunity to push forward government projects and reforms. The opposition was concerned about the concentration of power in the hands of the government and the very limited capacity of the opposition to provide proper oversight.
The El Salvador Elections 2024 results also showed the impact of electoral reform on political representation. The smaller Assembly and the new seat allocation formula were key elements of the debate over the state of El Salvador’s democratic institutions.
| 2024 Salvadoran Legislative Elections Results | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Political Party | Department |
| 1 | Ernesto Castro | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 2 | Alexia Rivas | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 3 | Suecy Callejas | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 4 | Rodrigo Ayala | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 5 | Christian Guevara | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 6 | Dania Gonzalez | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 7 | Elisa Rosales | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 8 | Ana Figueroa | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 9 | Edgardo Mulato | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 10 | Ruben Flores | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 11 | Dennis Salinas | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 12 | Francisco Villatoro | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 13 | Diana Fuentes | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 14 | Benjamin Zavaleta | New Ideas | San Salvador |
| 15 | Claudia Ortiz | VAMOS | San Salvador |
| 16 | Marcela Villatoro | ARENA | San Salvador |
| 17 | Walter Aleman | New Ideas | La Libertad |
| 18 | Sharon Salazar | New Ideas | La Libertad |
| 19 | Ricardo Rivas | New Ideas | La Libertad |
| 20 | Salvador Chacon | New Ideas | La Libertad |
| 21 | Sandra Interiano | New Ideas | La Libertad |
| 22 | Norma Lobo | New Ideas | La Libertad |
| 23 | Francisco Lira | ARENA | La Libertad |
| 24 | Felipe Interiano | New Ideas | Santa Ana |
| 25 | Lorena Fuentes | New Ideas | Santa Ana |
| 26 | Giovanny Zaldaña | New Ideas | Santa Ana |
| 27 | Claudia Toleda | New Ideas | Santa Ana |
| 28 | Evelyn Merlos | New Ideas | Santa Ana |
| 29 | Samuel Martinez | New Ideas | Sonsonate |
| 30 | Hector Sales | New Ideas | Sonsonate |
| 31 | Mauricio Ortiz | New Ideas | Sonsonate |
| 32 | Raul Chamagua | New Ideas | Sonsonate |
| 33 | David Cupido | New Ideas | Sonsonate |
| 34 | Eduardo Amaya | New Ideas | San Miguel |
| 35 | Caleb Navarro | New Ideas | San Miguel |
| 36 | Erick Romero | New Ideas | San Miguel |
| 37 | Reynaldo Carballo | PDC | San Miguel |
| 38 | Andres Miranda | New Ideas | San Miguel |
| 39 | Johana Hernandez | New Ideas | Usulutan |
| 40 | Angel Lobos | New Ideas | Usulutan |
| 41 | Raul Castillo | New Ideas | Usulutan |
| 42 | Maricela de Guardado | New Ideas | Usulutan |
| 43 | Herberth Sierra | New Ideas | Ahuachapan |
| 44 | Estuardo Rodriguez | New Ideas | Ahuachapan |
| 45 | Serafin Orantes | PCN | Ahuachapan |
| 46 | Walter Coto | New Ideas | La Paz |
| 47 | Adolfo Rivas | New Ideas | La Paz |
| 48 | Herbert Rodas | New Ideas | La Paz |
| 49 | Frank Menjivar | New Ideas | Cabañas |
| 50 | Nancy Alfaro | New Ideas | Cabañas |
| 51 | Reynaldo Cardoza | PCN | Chalatenango |
| 52 | Saul Mancia | New Ideas | Chalatenango |
| 53 | Janneth Molina | New Ideas | Cuscatlan |
| 54 | Jonathan Hernandez | New Ideas | Cuscatlan |
| 55 | Edgar Fuentes | New Ideas | San Vicente |
| 56 | Helen Jovel | New Ideas | San Vicente |
| 57 | William Soriano | New Ideas | La Union |
| 58 | Oscar Robles | New Ideas | La Union |
| 59 | Bladimir Barahona | New Ideas | Morazan |
| 60 | Juan Rodriguez | New Ideas | Morazan |
Municipal Elections: El Salvador Elects 44 Mayors
El Salvador held its municipal elections on March 3, 2024. Voters also headed to the polls that day to choose their representatives to the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN).
The municipal elections brought about one of the most significant changes to local government in recent Salvadoran history. Rather than electing mayors in the 262 municipalities, voters were only electing mayors in 44.
A territorial reorganization approved in 2023 saw the number of municipalities in the country reduced from 262 to 44. The former municipalities became districts within the new municipal boundaries.
Although the reform did alter the administrative structure, El Salvador still has its 14 departments. The new municipal governments commenced operating under the revised structure on May 1, 2024.
Municipal Election Results
Nuevas Ideas were by far the strongest force at the municipal level, taking 28 of the 44 mayoral posts (including two as part of coalitions with Cambio Democrático).
| Political Party or Coalition | Municipalities Won |
|---|---|
| Nuevas Ideas | 26 |
| Nuevas Ideas–Cambio Democrático | 2 |
| GANA | 6 |
| PDC | 4 |
| PCN | 3 |
| PCN–PDC Coalition | 1 |
| ARENA | 1 |
| Fuerza Solidaria | 1 |
| Total | 44 |
The results confirmed Nuevas Ideas’ dominance in local government (especially in the major cities), though a number of other parties still held on to municipalities throughout the country.
In San Salvador Centro, Mario Durán of Nuevas Ideas won the mayoralty. The new municipality comprises the districts of San Salvador, Mejicanos, Ciudad Delgado, Cuscatancingo and Ayutuxtepeque.
In La Libertad Este, the long-time mayor Milagro Navas won under the ARENA banner. Her victory was rather remarkable given that ARENA had taken such heavy losses elsewhere in the country.
The FMLN didn’t win a single mayoralty, another blow to a party which at one stage controlled a large number of municipalities across El Salvador.
How the Municipal Restructuring Changed Local Government
The cut from 262 to 44 municipalities changed the way Salvadorans interact with their local government. Each of the new municipalities has one mayor and one municipal council to oversee a number of districts.
The former municipalities do, of course, still exist as administrative districts; they just don’t elect their own mayors anymore. The district offices are now part of the larger municipal government.
Supporters of the reform maintained that amalgamation would lead to reduced administrative costs, better coordination, and the ability to put more money into local infrastructure and public services.
Critics have been concerned about local representation, especially in the smaller communities. With so few mayors and council members, there will be less direct access for the residents to the elected officials who are ultimately responsible for local decisions.
The long-term impact will be determined by how well the local authorities are able to provide services, keep the roads in good order, look after the public realm, and respond to the needs of the communities they serve across their areas.
| 2024 Salvadoran Municipal Elections Results | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Mayor | Political Party | Municipality |
| 1 | Darwin Regalado | New Ideas | Ahuachapan North |
| 2 | Luis Carlos Milla Garcia | PCN | Ahuachapan Center |
| 3 | Hugo Torrento | New Ideas | Ahuachapan South |
| 4 | Edgardo Portillo | New Ideas | Cabañas East |
| 5 | Lorenzo Rivas | GANA | Cabañas West |
| 6 | Mario Adelmo Urbina | PCN | Chalatenango North |
| 7 | Martin Leiva | New Ideas | Chalatenango Center |
| 8 | Milton Serrano | PCN | Chalatenango South |
| 9 | Carlos Sanchez | New Ideas | Cuscatlan North |
| 10 | Guadalupe Campos | New Ideas | Cuscatlan South |
| 11 | Janet Gonzalez | GANA | La Libertad West |
| 12 | Milagro Navas | ARENA | La Libertad East |
| 13 | Jorge Escamilla | New Ideas | La Libertad North |
| 14 | Noe Rivera | New Ideas | La Libertad Center |
| 15 | Rafael Avalos Diaz | GANA | La Libertad Coast |
| 16 | Henry Flores | New Ideas | La Libertad South |
| 17 | Marcela Pineda | New Ideas | La Paz East |
| 18 | Salvador Menendez | GANA | La Paz West |
| 19 | Armando Jiron | GANA | La Paz Center |
| 20 | Victoria Gutierrez | New Ideas | La Union South |
| 21 | Edwin Serpas | New Ideas | La Union North |
| 22 | Justino Vigil | New Ideas | Morazan North |
| 23 | Cedrick Alexander Vasquez | PCN-PDC | Morazan South |
| 24 | Carlos Ernesto Mendez | PDC | San Miguel North |
| 25 | Jose Alexander Torres | PDC | San Miguel Center |
| 26 | Elias Villatoro | New Ideas | San Miguel West |
| 27 | Jose Armando Barrera | GANA | San Salvador North |
| 28 | Jose Urbina | New Ideas | San Salvador West |
| 29 | Jose Chicas | New Ideas | San Salvador East |
| 30 | Mario Duran | New Ideas | San Salvador Center |
| 31 | Mario Vasquez | New Ideas | San Salvador South |
| 32 | Samuel Carrillo | New Ideas | San Vicente North |
| 33 | Josue Palacios | New Ideas | San Vicente South |
| 34 | Carolina Escobar | New Ideas | Santa Ana East |
| 35 | Carlos Landaverde | New Ideas-CD | Santa Ana North |
| 36 | Gustavo Acevedo | New Ideas | Santa Ana Center |
| 37 | Jorge Castro | New Ideas | Santa Ana West |
| 38 | Hugo Zavaleta | New Ideas | Sonsonate North |
| 39 | Jose Roberto Aquino | PDC | Sonsonate Center |
| 40 | Gabriel Serrano | New Ideas | Sonsonate East |
| 41 | Chris Aleman | New Ideas-CD | Sonsonate West |
| 42 | Luz Maria Cruz Torres | FS | Usulutan North |
| 43 | Noemi Alfaro | New Ideas | Usulutan West |
| 44 | Santiago Martinez | PDC | Usulutan East |
El Salvador Elections 2024: What the Results Revealed About Salvadoran Politics
The presidential, legislative, and municipal results all point to the same thing: Nuevas Ideas has become the main political force in El Salvador.
Bukele’s presidential win, the party’s 54 seats in the legislature, and its 28 municipal victories showed the extent of its electoral support at all levels of government.
At the same time, the results point to the difficulties facing the traditional political parties. ARENA and the FMLN both have a very difficult time in terms of regaining the support they had in previous decades.
The elections also brought back the old questions about political competition, institutional independence and representation. Those debates remain at the core of the discussion about the country’s political development.
The El Salvador Elections 2024 were about more than Bukele’s re-election. Major changes to the Legislative Assembly and municipal governments also reshaped the country’s political landscape—marking a turning point in El Salvador’s political history.
