Claudia López

Claudia Nayibe López Hernández (Claudia López), representing the independent movement Con Claudia Imparables, is one of three women and ten men competing in the race to become Colombia’s president in 2026. The first round of voting will take place on May 31. If no candidate secures a majority, a second round between the top two candidates is scheduled for June 21.

Born in Bogotá, López studied as an undergraduate at the Universidad Distrital de Bogotá, where she first became involved in politics as a student activist for constitutional reform. She went on to pursue advanced studies in international relations, public administration, and political science across institutions in Colombia, the United States, and the Netherlands, obtaining both an MPA and a PhD. 

López has pursued a career in public service and governance, both in Colombia and more broadly as an adviser for international organizations including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Between 2014 and 2018, she represented the Alianza Verde party in the Colombian Senate, and in 2019 she was elected mayor of Bogotá, the first woman to serve in that role. 

López was previously involved in Colombia’s presidential elections as the vice-presidential candidate for Allinza Verde in 2018. Running in 2026 as an independent candidate, she has focused her campaign on social justice and economic sustainability, with an emphasis on reducing inequality, strengthening institutional transparency, eliminating corruption, and promoting long-term fiscal and environmental resilience.

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