Ruling coalition Unión por la Patria (UxP)’s Buenos Aires province Governor Axel Kicillof clinched a second term on Sunday after winning 44.8% of the vote with just over 85% of votes counted. The Peronist incumbent was able to consolidate his gains after narrowly winning the August primaries.

Néstor Grindetti (Juntos por el Cambio, JxC) earned 26.6% of the preliminary vote, while Carolina Píparo (La Libertad Avanza, LLA) finished third with 24.6%.

Nationally, UxP finished first in the Argentine presidential elections, winning 36.1% of the vote with 84.6% of the votes counted.

“This demonstrates that what is said at the ballot box is worth more than what the [International Monetary Fund] says,” Kicillof said late Sunday evening. He also saluted the 82-year-old football fan known as ‘El Tula,’ who was there beating his trademark bass drum alongside hundreds of supporters.

Kicillof likewise thanked Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner for her “constant support,” acknowledging the attempt on her life and a corruption probe conviction that, if upheld, would effectively end her political career.

”Nonetheless, she continues to lead and has never called on us to stoop to bitterness or revenge. She serves as an example for those who use hatred and violence,” he said. 

The vice president is still legally allowed to run for office until she has exhausted her appeal in the “Vialidad” public works case.

“Some central points that are being debated have been made pretty clear. First, that dignity is not a business. Second, human rights do not depend on salaries,” Kicillof said in remarks directed at far-right libertarian presidential candidate Javier Milei. 

“Third, freedom is only attained when there is equal opportunity. Our life is not a market and the homeland is not for sale.” 

Kicillof closed his speech by highlighting the need for UxP to prevail in the national election.

“The campaign hasn’t ended in Buenos Aires province,” he said. “It ends when Sergio Massa becomes president of Argentina.” 

Buenos Aires is Argentina’s most populous province, home to 37% of the nation’s voters (17.5 million of the nation’s 46 million inhabitants). Ten point eight million people alone live in the Greater Buenos Aires area, the ring of suburbs that surrounds Buenos Aires City, also known as the conurbano.

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Catamarca and Entre Ríos

Buenos Aires province was not the only one to re-elect a UxP governor, with Raúl Jalil getting 53.8% of the vote (91.5% votes counted) in Catamarca on Sunday. The second most-voted candidate was Jalil’s cousin — LLA’s José Jalil Colomé with 23.9%.

Meanwhile, JxC’s Rogelio Frigerio — who served as Minister of the Interior under former president Mauricio Macri — became governor-elect of Entre Ríos with 41.7% of the vote. JxC is the national coalition with the highest number of gubernatorial wins across this year’s provincial elections. 

Buenos Aires City also went to the polls to elect its new mayor, ending Sunday with a run-off between JxC’s Jorge Macri and UxP’s Leandro Santoro.