Guayaquil 2026 mayoral race: candidates define city's stance toward central government

Ecuador's 2026 sectional elections will see Guayaquil choose a mayor among Viteri, Roche, Ycaza, and Luzárraga, with the outcome determining the city's political distance from the central government. The candidates offer differing positions on autonomy and relations with Quito, making the race a proxy for broader center-periphery tensions. The result will shape Guayaquil's leverage in national politics and its approach to local governance.