Leonardo Huerta is the vice-presidential candidate running alongside Claudia López in the 2026 Colombian presidential election [1].
This partnership signals a strategy to combine López's political profile with academic credibility and a focus on grassroots engagement. By selecting a candidate known for direct citizen contact, the campaign aims to distance itself from traditional political machinery.
Huerta, 46, is an academic from Pereira, Risaralda [1]. He has taught at more than 20 universities throughout his career [1]. Known by the nickname "El Profe," he is described as the moniker he prefers most [1].
The pair met during the signature-collection phase of the campaign in Pereira, where both were actively gathering support on the street [1, 2]. This meeting occurred prior to the official candidate registration deadline in April 2026 [2].
Huerta has positioned his candidacy as a return to authenticity in governance. "There are people who disguise themselves to captivate the electorate, we do not," Huerta said [3].
He has also critiqued the historical usage of the vice-presidency in Colombia. Huerta said there has been a "denaturalization and disfigurement" of the vice-presidential role [4].
The ticket is now preparing for the general election scheduled for May 31, 2026 [5].
“"There are people who disguise themselves to captivate the electorate, we do not."”
The selection of Leonardo Huerta represents a shift toward 'academic populism,' where a candidate's credentials in higher education are paired with street-level campaigning. By emphasizing their meeting during signature collection, the López-Huerta ticket is attempting to build a narrative of organic, citizen-led leadership rather than one brokered by party elites.
