As politicians on the left and right fuel polarization, signs of an appetite for centrist politics are starting to show.

Two young newcomers—Gabriel Boric on the left and Sebastián Sichel on the right—beat out frontrunners to lead their respective coalitions. The presidential vote takes place in November.

"It seems that he was able to gather this image of being the outsider," said the Americas Quarterly managing editor.

The most effective leaders during the pandemic have been mayors. It’s interesting to examine why.

The first female mayor of Tumaco, María Emilsen Angulo took office just in time for a global pandemic.

In Argentina’s northernmost and highest capital, a fourth-term mayor has changed the environmental landscape.

Local leaders are tackling big problems – often without the partisanship paralyzing national politics.