Andalusia Elections: Candidates, Parties, and Key Issues for May 17

Andalusia will hold regional elections on May 17, 2026, to elect the 13th Parliament of the autonomous community. All 109 seats in the Parliament are up for election, with 55 seats required to secure a majority.

The current president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla of the People’s Party (PP), is running as a candidate to revalidate his mandate. In the 2022 election, Moreno secured an overall majority with 58 seats and 43.1% of the vote, marking the first time in history that an overall majority was achieved in an autonomous community that had been ruled uninterruptedly by the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party of Andalusia (PSOE–A) from 1978 to 2019.

Political Landscape and Leadership Changes

The electoral contest features a mix of established figures and new leadership. The PSOE–A has appointed María Jesús Montero as its new leader as of February 23, 2025, in an effort to revitalize the party. Montero, who serves as the national first deputy prime minister and finance minister, replaced Juan Espadas in the role.

Other key party leaders competing for seats include Manuel Gavira of Vox, who has led the party since August 10, 2022, and Antonio Maíllo of PorA, who assumed leadership on November 20, 2025. José Ignacio García has led Adelante Andalucía since March 16, 2024.

The current parliamentary distribution reflects the 2022 results, with the PP holding 58 seats, PSOE–A holding 30, and Vox holding 14. PorA and Adelante Andalucía hold 5 and 2 seats, respectively.

Campaign Issues and Controversies

The campaign has been heavily influenced by a healthcare scandal that emerged in October 2025. The controversy stems from the mishandling of breast cancer screening protocols by the Andalusian Health Service. The management of this issue by the PP government sparked widespread public outrage and has become a dominant theme in the lead-up to the vote.

Juanma Moreno has historically employed a moderate profile strategy to expand his electoral base. However, the current political climate is described as one of the most open contests in recent years, combining a desire for continuity within the right-wing bloc with fragmentation on the left.

Polling and Electoral Projections

Recent polling from the CIS indicates that while Moreno would likely win the election, he may do so without an absolute majority. The same polling suggests that both the PSOE and Vox are receding in support.

Despite the CIS findings, some political sources close to Vox suggest that the party may still achieve strong results, although there is concern that poll responses may not meet expectations, similar to previous outcomes in Castilla y León.

Candidate Field and Accreditation

The 2026 election is characterized by a high degree of political fragmentation. A total of 25 parties and three coalitions have been accredited to participate in the regional elections.

This fragmentation is evident at the provincial level. In Huelva, for example, voters will be able to choose between 18 different candidacies, consisting of 15 parties and three coalitions.

The outcome of the May 17 vote will determine whether the PP can maintain its overall majority or if the parliament will require new agreements between right-wing formations to govern the autonomous community.