Ex-governor Clara Luz Roldán Launches Bid for Cali Mayor Under Partido De La U

Clara Luz Roldán, former governor of Valle del Cauca, has officially announced her candidacy for mayor of Cali under the Partido de La U, ending months of speculation. The current co-director of the party cited her government experience and social service vocation as qualifications for the city's top office in the 2027 elections, adding that she has maintained a transparent political career "with a clean record and no investigation processes. Roldán compared Cali's current social and reconstruction challenges to those she faced as governor, when she took office just days before the COVID-19 pandemic hit." She noted she won that race with more than 953,000 votes, defeating contenders including former Labor Minister Griselda Janeth Restrepo, Mónica Gaitán, and Francisco Lourido.

She expressed optimism, recalling how all social sectors united to help those in need, but acknowledged that "governors have had it harder due to the aftermath of the earthquake. She congratulated President Abelardo de la Espriella and his team, as well as Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder and Governor Dilian Francisca Toro, for their emergency response. Roldán highlighted her record: "In the Governorship I executed 95% of the Development Plan budget and I aspire to give Cali what it needs.

The city needs four years for its recovery. She added, I have delivered more than 2,000 works as a public official: in Barranquilla for the Central American Games, in Santa Marta for the Bolivarian Games, and in Cali for the World Games. Roldán's public career includes serving as director of the Ministry of Sport (then Coldeportes), manager of Indervalle, and departmental manager of the Comptroller General's Office.

In Cali, she held roles as secretary of Sports and Recreation, secretary of Social Welfare and Community Development, general secretary, secretary of Public Works, undersecretary of Housing, peace advisor, and councilwoman. She is currently the only official candidate for mayor, though possible bids from the Pacto Histórico have been discussed involving congressmen Alfredo Mondragón and Alejandro Ocampo. Roldán's announcement comes as Cali continues to recover from the earthquake's effects, with her campaign emphasizing execution and results over rhetoric. Her bid will be closely watched as the city prepares for the 2027 electoral cycle.