section_path: Candidates/People's United Party
section_name: People's United Party
paragraph_text: People's United Party
  
  The ruling PUP sought to form the next government after having won a landslide 26 seats in 2020. Incumbent Prime Minister Johnny Briceño of Orange Walk Central lead the PUP into his second election as party leader. The PUP had won 65 out of 67 municipal seats in the 2021 municipal elections and defended 61 of them in 2024. The PUP was also victorious in the two parliamentary by-elections that took place following the 2020 election. Elvia Vega-Samos successfully held Corozal Bay in the 3 March 2021 by-election following the death of her brother, David Vega, from COVID-19. Osmond Martinez also held Toledo East in the 17 July 2024 by-election following the death of Michael Espat.
  
  For the first time in Belize's history, two of the PUP's candidates, Anthony Mahler of Pickstock and Henry Charles Usher of Fort George, were automatically declared the winner of their respective divisions due to the lack of challengers on Nominations Day.