These Candidates Took on Political Dynasties in the 2025 Midterm Elections—And Won

(SPOT.ph) Political dynasties have long been a fact of life in the Philippines, but if there’s anything the 2025 midterm elections have taught us, it’s that even the most established names aren’t untouchable. It turns out a compelling platform (and maybe a little voter fatigue) can go a long way.

According to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), as many as 113 of the country's 149 city mayors belong to political dynasties.  

By definition, a political dynasty refers to “a situation in which an incumbent official has at least one relative in elected office in the past or the present government.” They come in three forms: thin, where only one family member is in office at a time, usually with power passed down from one generation to the next; fat, where two or more relatives hold office simultaneously; and obese, the most extreme type, where several family members occupy multiple positions at the same time.

With that in mind, here are the candidates who managed to end dynastic rule in 2025 just by winning. Do note that not everyone on this list is a political underdog—some are re-electionists—but all of them managed to beat candidates from powerful political clans, regardless.

Also read: How Bam Aquino Placed Second in the 2025 Midterm Elections

Here are the political dynasties voted out in the 2025 midterm elections

Mark Anthony Santos vs Cynthia Villar in Las Piñas

Las Piñas shocked everyone when Mark Anthony Santos, a city councilor running as an independent, beat none other than Senator Cynthia Villar for the city’s lone congressional seat. Villar was hoping to reclaim a post once held by her husband, Manny Villar, who started the family’s political hold on the city in 1992. Since then, nearly every congressional term has been held by a Villar—which includes patriarch Manny, matriarch Cynthia, son Mark, and daughter Camille.

Santos won on the back of a quiet-but-effective campaign that banked on people’s fatigue with political dynasties. A longtime official, he served as chief of staff to the late Mayor Vergel “Nene” Aguilar before winning two terms as city councilor. His track record includes pushing for social housing projects, increasing funding for free hospitalization programs, and advocating for a student allowance initiative to support public school learners. 

During the campaign, Santos promised social housing, students’ allowance, and expansion of the free hospitalization program, among others. It seems his non-affiliation with any national party also helped him gain trust as the “alternative” candidate. He won with 109,220 votes, beating Villar’s 89,800.

Pamela Baricuatro vs Gwendolyn Garcia in Cebu

After decades of dominance in Cebu, the Garcias finally lost their grip. Pamela Baricuatro defeated Gwendolyn Garcia, who has been governor from 2004 to 2013 and from 2019 to 2025. That’s not even counting her stint as 3rd District representative or the legacy of her father, Pablo Garcia, who was a congressman for multiple terms between 1987 and 2013.

Baricuatro entered the race as a first-time candidate, but she wasn’t exactly new to public service. She founded the SimplyShare Foundation, which runs feeding programs and food security efforts for children. Her philanthropy work focused on poverty reduction, anti-corruption, support for farmers, accessible healthcare, and youth empowerment.

Timing may have also helped her cause: just weeks before the election, Garcia was suspended by the Ombudsman over a controversial permit issue. Baricuatro went on to win by over 342,000 votes.

Leandro Leviste vs Eric Buhain in Batangas

Leandro Leviste won big in Batangas’ 1st District, taking 268,764 votes to unseat incumbent Eric Buhain, who got just 91,588. This 75% majority not only marked the biggest margin against any sitting congressman in the 2025 elections but also set a record for the most votes ever recorded in any congressional race in Batangas' history.

As the founder of Solar Philippines New Energy Corporation, he ran on a platform centered on renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and economic development for the poorest municipalities. Meanwhile, Buhain is the husband of former congresswoman Eileen Ermita, whose family led the district for almost 30 years, with only a brief interruption between 2010 and 2013.

That said, Leviste isn’t exactly a political outsider—he's the son of Senator Loren Legarda. Still, Leviste managed to package himself as a forward-thinking alternative to traditional governance.

Vilma Caluag vs Mylyn-Pineda Cayabyab in San Fernando

In San Fernando, Pampanga, Vilma Caluag defended her post as mayor against Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab, a member of the influential Pineda clan. Mylyn is the daughter of former governor Lilia Pineda and the sister of current governor Dennis Pineda.

Just how deep does the family run in Pampanga politics? They’ve held the governor’s seat since 2010, with Lilia and Dennis alternating in the position.

While that was happening, Caluag was steadily building her own political experience from the ground up: rising from barangay captain to councilor, then vice mayor, before becoming the city’s first female mayor in 2022. During her first term, she focused on education and healthcare for low-income families, including establishing a free dialysis center for residents. This earned her solid support, especially among first-time voters. The 64,000-vote gap between her and Cayabyab was proof of that.

Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas vs Luis Manzano in Batangas

Everyone thought actor Luis Manzano would breeze through his first election thanks to name recall—after all, his mom is actress Vilma Santos, who was also former governor and congresswoman of Batangas. Yet voters opted for a more familiar name in local politics: Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas.

The 80-year-old Mandanas has served as governor from 1995 to 2004, and again from 2016 to 2025. Among his notable achievements are increasing the health budget from P616 million to P697 million and co-petitioning the Supreme Court, resulting in the Mandanas-Garcia ruling that increased the share of national taxes allocated to local government units.

In the end, experience took the bag: Mandanas received 804,225 votes, while Manzano got 552,044.

Had Manzano won, it would have marked a rare triple victory for the family in a single election cycle—his mother took back the governor post while his younger brother, Ryan Recto, won a congressional seat.

Also read: COMELEC: No Failure of Election in the 2025 Midterm Elections