In the corridors of political power in Colombia, a phenomenon is beginning to take shape that, far from being just an initial anecdote, now seems to be confirming itself as a reality here to stay: Digital content creators who, after amassing followers on social media, now aspire to win seats in Congress.
After the filing deadline for candidates, the recent registration of contenders for the March 2026 legislative elections showed that many of these hopefuls come from the world of “influencer culture,” eager to turn their online popularity into real political capital.
Among them are people known for their presence on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, or X, who have entered the electoral arena with the backing of traditional parties, emerging coalitions, and alternative movements.
Influencers aspiring to Congress in Colombia 2026
In an open-list electoral system, in which voters choose a person rather than a slate from a closed list — even though that possibility exists and, for example, is the one chosen by the Historic Pact for both chambers of Congress — the possibility of being elected simply by virtue of one’s number of social media followers turns what initially seemed like an oddity into a reality.
For some, this trend represents a renewal of politics: An open door for new voices, closer to the sentiments of a large portion of the connected population. For others, it is a warning sign: The risk that congressional seats will be filled with media “stars” whose strongest asset is their number of likes, rather than experience, firm proposals, or social commitment.
According to a recent tally of candidacies, several figures who gained notoriety on social media decided to register for Congress. Some names come from progressive coalitions, others from conservative or independent movements; some are close to the cultural, media, or entertainment spheres, although their common goal is to secure a legislative seat.
The logic behind these candidacies is, in part, demographic and communicational: These aspirants tend to have large, young, urban, digitally active audiences. In a context in which social networks function as central spaces for the formation of public opinion, their media capital can be attractive to political parties, beyond the generous salaries which, for 2025, amounted to 52 million pesos (approximately US$13,700) per month, not counting benefits and perks.
This phenomenon, unheard of in Colombia until recently, is breaking into the landscape of traditional politics — that of clans, traditional parties, and the structured machinery with clientelist networks across the geography — which now appears worn-out and questioned. The truth is that, for now, these traditional structures have not managed to respond to a phenomenon from which — surely — they will soon seek to benefit.
Miguel Polo Polo, the Colombian pioneer who jumped from social media to Congress
In Colombia, one of the pioneers in making the leap from social media to Congress is young representative Miguel Polo Polo, who was elected in 2022 with just over 35,000 votes in the Afro-descendant social constituency.
After nearly three years in Congress, Representative Polo has become known for controversies, outbursts, reprimands, and even judicial orders of retraction following inappropriate statements. The case of this new political archetype sharply concentrates many of the tensions triggered by this phenomenon.
Originally from the coast, with a trajectory tied to opposition to the current government, Polo Polo rose to combative fame on social media, a space where his discourse has attracted tens of thousands of followers. After his election in 2022 as a representative in the House, his media presence did not diminish; on the contrary, it intensified his controversies, the very ones that helped him make the leap into parliamentary life.
His record in the Capitol has been rife with complaints: The member of Congress is accused of systematic absenteeism, with hundreds of absences from plenary sessions recorded, despite receiving a considerable salary for his seat. Added to this are ethical concerns: After he removed and discarded several boots from an installation honoring victims of extrajudicial killings — an action considered an act of historical memory and symbolic reparation — the Supreme Court of Justice opened an investigation against him for possible discrimination.
In July, he was hospitalized due to a hypertensive crisis, which generated further criticism of his public role: Some questioned the fact that his absence coincided with key sessions in the First Committee, fueling rumors that he used a medical exemption to avoid parliamentary responsibilities.
Moreover, even within social networks there are those who now see him as a symptom of the degradation of representation: An individual who, based on his media exposure, managed to enter Congress, but whose performance — for some — lacks real substance beyond the noise.
The influencers aspiring to become members of Congress in 2026
Among the most prominent contenders for next year’s elections is Walter Rodriguez, known as “Wally,” a lawyer and former opinion show host who appears on the Senate lists for the ruling Historic Pact bloc. Also featured is Laura “Lalis” Beltran — a journalist and influencer — who is running for the House of Representatives.
For her part, internationally renowned chef Leonor Espinosa — best known for her restaurant “Leo” — decided to make the leap into politics: She was included on the Liberal Party’s list as a House candidate. Another name that stands out is Felipe Saruma (Andres Felipe Camargo Gonzalez), popular for his activity on social media, who is seeking a House seat for Atlantico under the banner of Radical Change.
In that same sphere are influencers such as Alejo Vergel, “Miss Melindres” (Hannah Escobar), and “El profe Charles” Figueroa, who registered under the Ahora Colombia coalition.
The final list of candidates aspiring to become new members of Congress in 2026 is long. Some have better chances than others, but what these would-be parliamentary politicians have in common is the fact that they use their social media presence as a platform to make themselves known and secure support at the polls.
Many of them, as was the case in 2022 with Miguel Polo Polo or Jota Pe Hernandez — another social-media activist who managed to enter Congress three years ago — have little to no political experience, but their popularity may be enough to launch a parliamentary career.
Más de 100.000 personas reaccionaron a nuestra candidatura al Senado en Facebook. pic.twitter.com/uhJvzgoHDt
— Alejo Vergel (@YoAlejoV) December 5, 2025
Democratic renewal or decline of representativeness?
The emergence of influencers in legislative politics raises a real dilemma for Colombian democracy. On the one hand, there is a genuine possibility of connecting with new audiences, diversifying representation, and breaking with traditional, clientelist, or elitist logics. Young, different people with communication skills in a digital world — this can be a refreshing proposition in a country like Colombia, marked by inequality, institutional distrust, and disaffection toward conventional politics.
But on the other hand, this very phenomenon can exacerbate other ills: superficiality, spectacle, polarization, the reduction of politics to “memes” or “trolling.” Popularity becomes a substitute for leadership; media-based social ascent becomes equated with governing ability. Important decisions — on justice, historical memory, social rights — fall into the hands of those who dominate virality more than serious analysis.
The case of Miguel Polo Polo is an example of this risk: His contradictions, absences, theatrical egocentric controversies, and legal troubles show that popularity is not enough. Institutional responsibility demands more than followers; it requires commitment, coherence, respect for memory, and legislative seriousness.
Today, as the electoral calendar moves toward March, the debate is more alive than ever. Because if anything is evident in this wave of “influencer-to-Congress” candidacies, it is that the way politics is done is changing — but the question is whether it is changing for the better.