Chile’s runoff presidential election yesterday delivered a resounding victory to the far-right candidate, José Antonio Kast. That immediately won him congratulations from right-wing political leaders around the globe, including U.S. President Donald Trump. Kast campaigned on a promise to crack down on illegal immigration and organized crime and to rekindle Chile’s weak economy. His opponent, the Communist Party politician Jeannette Jara, struggled to convince voters that she could lead on any of these issues.

The return of the right to Chile, and especially the rise of the far right encapsulated in Kast’s victory, will have ripple effects across the hemisphere and beyond. Kast’s win will embolden culture warriors given Kast’s opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. It will also give momentum to right-wing political movements that focus on hard-line immigration and security policy and further build a growing club of countries that are turning away from mainstream politics.

Chile’s runoff presidential election yesterday delivered a resounding victory to the far-right candidate, José Antonio Kast. That immediately won him congratulations from right-wing political leaders around the globe, including U.S. President Donald Trump. Kast campaigned on a promise to crack down on illegal immigration and organized crime and to rekindle Chile’s weak economy. His opponent, the Communist Party politician Jeannette Jara, struggled to convince voters that she could lead on any of these issues.

The return of the right to Chile, and especially the rise of the far right encapsulated in Kast’s victory, will have ripple effects across the hemisphere and beyond. Kast’s win will embolden culture warriors given Kast’s opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. It will also give momentum to right-wing political movements that focus on hard-line immigration and security policy and further build a growing club of countries that are turning away from mainstream........

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