[1/3] Colombian President Gustavo Petro casts his vote during the elections for governors, regional lawmakers and mayors, in Bogota, Colombia October 29, 2023. REUTERS/Vannessa Jimenez Acquire Licensing RightsBOGOTA, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Colombian opposition candidates largely swept elections for mayors, governors and regional lawmakers on Sunday, dealing a defeat to President Gustavo Petro's leftist coalition in votes that analysts called a referendum on his government. Petro congratulated the winning candidates and said he planned to work together. Many of the winning candidates had vowed to improve security and promote projects that will create jobs with private sector support. Although campaigning was marked by deteriorating security and threats to candidates, voting largely proceeded without incident.

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Persons: Gustavo Petro, Vannessa Jimenez, Gustavo Petro's, Petro, Gustavo Bolivar, Bolivar, Sergio Guzman, Carlos Fernando Galan, Luis Jaime Acosta, Daina Beth Solomon, Lincoln, Stephen Coates Organizations: Colombian, REUTERS, Rights, New Liberalism Party, Bogota, Registrar's Office, Thomson Locations: Bogota, Colombia, Rights BOGOTA, Colombian, Colombia's, Medellin, Cali