After Salvadoran President Bukele and his New Ideas Party won 80% of votes in national elections (54 of 60 legislators) in February, COFOA continued to engage more people in the March Mayoral elections. COFOA’s grassroots leaders organized forums with mayoral candidates and worked with 20 Catholic priests and 29 Evangelical pastors to promote a Get Out the Vote message to people. COFOA leaders organized in 115 communities from 26 municipalities in eight departments to reach 30,467 voters. Election results shifted slightly. New Ideas Party candidates won 28 of 44 (63%) mayoral races. While a majority of the new mayors are tied to the New Ideas party and its political allies, COFOA is building community power to hold elected officials accountable and continue building pressure for land rights and public investment in the poorest communities in El Salvador, and across Central America.
