Piura has voted – but there is no winner yet! The regional election in northern Peru is turning into a political thriller. According to initial exit poll results, Reynaldo Hilbck of Alianza para el Progreso is in the lead. However, it is not enough for an outright victory. Right behind him is Santiago Paz of Somos Perú. It could come down to these two candidates to decide who will govern Piura in the future.
Hilbck in the lead – but not far enough!
The initial figures are causing suspense. According to the exit poll by Datum published on Sunday, October 4, 2026, Reynaldo Hilbck reached 24.7 percent. He is followed in second place by Santiago Paz with 20.2 percent. Behind them are Roddy La Torre of Podemos Perú with 15.8 percent and Servando García of Fuerza Regional with 10.1 percent.
- Reynaldo Hilbck – Alianza para el Progreso: 24.7 %
- Santiago Paz – Somos Perú: 20.2 %
- Roddy La Torre – Podemos Perú: 15.8 %
- Servando García – Fuerza Regional: 10.1 %
- Other candidates combined: 29.2 %
However, caution is advised with these numbers. They are the results of an exit poll, not the final official election result. The ongoing count by the ONPE is the deciding factor. Even before election day, PeruMagazin reported on candidates, polls, and election promises in Piura.
The magic 30 percent mark
Despite being in first place, Hilbck faces a problem: In a regional election in Peru, a simple lead in the first round does not automatically guarantee victory. A candidate needs at least 30 percent of the valid votes to take over the regional government directly.
Based on the initial numbers, Hilbck is still a good distance away from that. If this result is confirmed by the official count and no candidate reaches the required mark, Piura will have to head to the polls a second time.
Everything points to a Hilbck vs. Paz showdown
If the official count confirms the current picture, there will be a runoff. The scheduled date is November 29, 2026. That is when Reynaldo Hilbck and Santiago Paz could face each other directly.
This would turn the large field of candidates into a two-way race for the regional government. And suddenly, the votes of the eliminated candidates become particularly important. Hilbck and Paz will have to try to win over the voters who cast their ballots for a different candidate in the first round.
More than half voted for other candidates
This is exactly where the next round of the campaign begins. Combined, Hilbck and Paz reach 44.9 percent according to the exit poll. More than half of the votes have so far gone to other candidates.
These voters could tip the scales in a runoff. It will be particularly interesting to see where the supporters of Roddy La Torre and Servando García turn. The votes of the smaller political groups could also suddenly carry significant weight.
Hilbck wants a comeback!
Reynaldo Hilbck is already familiar with the region's seat of power. He was previously the regional governor of Piura and is now attempting a political comeback. While first place in the exit poll brings him closer to this goal, nothing has been decided yet.
According to the published figures, his lead over Santiago Paz is only 4.5 percentage points. Should a runoff occur, a new race will begin, one in which the first-round result provides no guarantee of a later victory.
Santiago Paz keeps pace
For Santiago Paz, election night is by no means the end. With 20.2 percent, the Somos Perú candidate is in second place and thus, as things currently stand, on track for a runoff.
His big opportunity lies with the many votes for the eliminated candidates. If Paz succeeds in winning over a significant portion of these voters, the second round could be completely wide open. Piura may therefore be facing several more weeks of intense campaigning.
Excitement in the city of Piura as well
It was not only the regional government being voted on. There are also initial numbers for the election of the provincial mayor of Piura. According to the Datum exit poll, Miguel Cueva of Somos Perú is in the lead with 24.1 percent. Jorge Flores follows with 19 percent, while José Morey has 15.5 percent.
These values are also not yet an official final result. The official results from the ONPE are the decisive factor for the final assessment of the election.
A lot is at stake in this election
Whoever governs the Piura Department takes charge of one of the most important regions in northern Peru. Water supply, roads, hospitals, agriculture, jobs, and public safety are among the issues that directly affect millions of people.
Added to this is a problem that Piura knows all too well: extreme weather. Heavy rainfall and potential El Niño events can threaten roads, homes, and agricultural land within a very short time. PeruMagazin has previously reported on Piura's preparations for El Niño and the extraordinary temperatures caused by El Niño.
Piura is a heavyweight in the north
There is also a lot at stake economically. Agriculture, fishing, trade, energy, and tourism play a significant role in Piura. From the port city of Paita and the coastal areas to the hinterland, numerous projects and investments depend on the decisions of the regional government.
Winning the election therefore brings more than just a political title. The next regional government must demonstrate how it intends to advance Piura economically, improve infrastructure, and better protect the region against weather extremes.
All eyes now on the ONPE
Election night provided an initial picture, but no final decision. Now the ballots are being counted and the official results are being published. Only then will it be clear who is actually in the lead and whether Piura will have to return to the polls on November 29, 2026.
Should Hilbck and Paz retain their top two spots and neither reach the required 30 percent, Piura faces a head-to-head duel for the regional government. At that point, the deck will be reshuffled – and the votes of those who chose other candidates in the first round could decide the outcome.
PeruMagazin will continue to follow the vote count and political developments in Piura.
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Open WhatsApp channelAgencia Andina, October 4, 2026 – Piura regional election and potential runoff.
Oficina Nacional de Procesos Electorales (ONPE) – 2026 Regional and Municipal Elections, official count.
Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE) – Rules and schedule for the 2026 regional elections.
El Comercio / Datum, October 4, 2026 – Piura exit poll.
Hero image source: ONPE Oficial / Flickr, polling station in Sullana, Piura, April 11, 2021; via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Symbolic image.
