As Belize gears up for its 2027 municipal elections, the United Democratic Party (UDP), the nation’s main opposition political force, has finalized its initial candidate vetting for the coveted Belize City mayoral nomination, shaking up the local political landscape weeks ahead of the official campaign kickoff.
UDP party leader Tracy Panton announced the outcomes of the party’s nomination review process in a public statement on June 30, 2026, confirming that two contenders – attorney Jackie Willoughby and business manager Damian Gough – have been approved to compete for the party’s mayoral spot in an upcoming open convention. The date for this internal party vote will be disclosed to party members and the public in the near future.
Both first-time political candidates bring deep existing ties to the UDP’s national leadership structure, Panton emphasized. Willoughby currently serves as legal advisor to the party’s National Party Council, while Gough chairs the body’s Policy and Planning Committee. Panton hailed the pair’s ongoing contributions to the UDP’s post-election rebuilding efforts, describing their work as “Herculean” and noting that both bring substantial skills that would benefit Belize City’s governance if elected.
“I think they are both formidable candidates for the United Democratic Party, and I am pleased that both of them have offered themselves to run for this party,” Panton said in the official statement, a transcript of which was published by local media. “They are both very valuable to the work of the rebuilding of the party… And I think they both have a lot to offer to the management and leadership of the city.”
The party’s vetting process also addressed a second Willoughby candidacy: Philip Willoughby, who submitted applications for both the mayoral nomination and a city council seat. After the nominations committee completed its review and submitted recommendations to the UDP central executive committee – the party’s top decision-making body – Philip Willoughby was only approved to run as a councilor candidate, with his mayoral bid rejected.
With the mayoral shortlist finalized, Panton confirmed that the party has attracted a large slate of young professional candidates vying for city council seats, building out a full team that the UDP hopes will propel it to victory in the March 2027 municipal elections. The opposition party has made retaking control of Belize City Hall a core political priority, and Panton expressed confidence that the emerging ticket puts the UDP in a strong position to achieve that goal.
Notably, the People’s United Party, the current ruling party, has also already named two mayoral candidates for Belize City, setting up a competitive general election contest regardless of which contender wins the UDP’s internal nomination. The upcoming open convention will give UDP party members in Belize City the chance to directly select their mayoral nominee ahead of the general campaign, marking a transparent, open process for internal party selection.