La candidata is a Mexican telenovela produced by Giselle González for Televisa. It is an original story about the world of politics. A total of 60 episodes have been confirmed so far.
La Candidata was well received by critics, with its divergence in tone from previous telenovelas and the addressing of topics, such as political corruption, being particularly praised. It won eight awards at the 35th TVyNovelas Awards, including Best Telenovela of the Year.
Contents
Plot
The main character, Regina, is a senator married to the leader of her city's government. The show follows Regina's attempts to improve the political situation for the people she represents against a backdrop of her strained relationship with her husband and the rebellion of her young son.
When Regina's husband Alonso decides to run for the presidential candidacy, he reveals darker aspects of his personality as he ruthlessly pursues his political ambitions. Regina's political ideals clash with her husband's as he disregards her earlier contributions to his success and takes steps to destroy his current political adversaries, not realizing his wife is now among their number. As the political tension between Regina and her husband becomes untenable, Regina's former lover, a man named Gerardo, reappears in her life. Gerardo becomes Alonso's rival in both politics and love. Regina decides that her life with Alonso has been a lie and takes steps to end their relationship.
Many of Alonso's corrupt political dealings are made public, confirming for Regina that she made the correct choice to leave him. The revelations about Alonso's political activities also convinces Regina that someone must permanently destroy Alonso's political career in order to put an end to his corruption. Gerardo puts aside his own political ambitions in order to support Regina as she joins the race for the presidential nomination and becomes the candidate herself.
Production
Filming began on August 16, 2016, at Televisa San Ángel.
Casting
Casting for the telenovela began from June through August 2016. Actors Juan Carlos Barreto, Helena Rojo, Luz María Jerez, Nailea Norvind, Ari Telch, Federico Ayos and Adalberto Parra were cast in unknown Roles. On July 13, 2016, Susana González was cast as the sister of the protagonist. Two days later, Rafael Sánchez Navarro was cast as the husband of the protagonist. Blanca Guerra was cast as the titular role, but was replaced by Silvia Navarro because of tight schedule. For the role of the main male protagonist, Mark Tacher, Víctor González and Juan Pablo Medina were nominees, but ultimately the role went to Víctor González.
Reception
Following the premiere, television critic Álvaro Cueva said La Candidata represented a fundamental change for the better of the national television industry. Besides its theme (which he contrasted with previous political telenovelas), Cueva also praised the cinematography, hair and makeup, wardrobe, and music. After the finale, Cueva lauded the creators for the original script and for their depiction of a gritty situation in Mexico, rather than making another remake or Cinderella story.
In November 2016, certain media outlets that support MORENA leader Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a likely presidential candidate, expressed their belief that this television program was created in order to favor former First Lady Margarita Zavala, possible PAN candidate, in the 2018 Presidential Election. In an overview after the show's finale, Milenio commentator Fernando Mejía Barquera mentioned these assertions saying that those "who held this position must have abandoned it during the course of the telenovela because nothing of the main character was reminiscent of the former first lady." With the main character being described as a populist.