--- type: politician_profile lang: en canonical: https://www.politicaelectoral.com/en/argentina/politicians/alfredo-cornejo nombre: Alfredo Cornejo partido: ucr generado: 2026-05-02T21:54:19 data_crc: 57234b69 --- Alfredo Cornejo is an Argentine **Radical** politician and the current **Governor of Mendoza**. He has led the UCR nationally and remains one of the country’s most influential provincial figures. ## Political career Alfredo Cornejo was born in **1962** in Mendoza province. He studied **law**, building a career that combined legal work, party organisation and provincial politics. His political identity was shaped within the **Unión Cívica Radical (UCR)**, the historic Argentine centrist party, where he developed as a pragmatic, institution-focused leader with a strong provincial base. His rise began in Mendoza’s political life, where he occupied roles in local and provincial administration before reaching executive office. Cornejo became **Governor of Mendoza for the first time in 2015**, a period that coincided with the nationwide shift away from Peronist rule under Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and the emergence of the Cambiemos coalition. In Mendoza, he won office as a modernising and fiscally disciplined candidate, and his first term ran from **2015 to 2019**. After leaving the governorship, Cornejo remained highly active in national politics. He was elected **National Senator for Mendoza** and served from **2021 to 2023**, giving him a direct role in federal legislative debates and in the positioning of the UCR within the broader opposition field. From **2017 to 2021**, he also served as **President of the Unión Cívica Radical**, a key role through which he helped define the party’s strategy during a period of internal tension over alliances with PRO and the wider centre-right coalition. He returned to Mendoza’s executive branch in **2023**, winning the governorship again and taking office for a second term as **Governor of Mendoza (2023–present)**. This return confirmed his durability as a provincial leader and his continued relevance in national opposition politics. ## Relationship with the public Cornejo has generally built a reputation as a **serious, managerial and results-oriented** politician rather than a charismatic mass leader. In Mendoza, he is often associated with administrative order, fiscal discipline and a strong emphasis on provincial autonomy. This has earned him support among voters who prioritise governance, security and economic predictability. His relationship with civil society has been shaped by a relatively technocratic style and a willingness to confront organised interests when he believes institutional control is at stake. He has had a sometimes tense but sustained relationship with **trade unions**, public-sector organisations and sectors of the opposition that see his style as overly rigid. At the same time, parts of the business community and middle-class electorate often view him as a credible manager capable of stabilising provincial administration. In the media, Cornejo is usually portrayed as one of the **most influential Radical leaders** in Argentina, particularly because he combines local power with national party leadership experience. He is not generally seen as a polarising media personality at the level of some national figures, but his firm positions, especially on state management and party alliances, tend to generate clear support and criticism. ## Positions and political profile Cornejo is identified with a **centrist-liberal and institutionalist** strand of Argentine Radicalism. His political profile stresses **public management, fiscal responsibility, security, anti-populism and provincial development**. In office, he has typically favoured a state that is active but disciplined, with an emphasis on efficiency over expansion. A defining feature of his career has been his role in the internal debate over the UCR’s place in opposition coalitions. As party president between **2017 and 2021**, he supported maintaining the Radical Party’s relevance within the broader centre-right alliance that governed nationally under Mauricio Macri, while also defending the UCR’s own identity and provincial territorial strength. This has made him both influential and, at times, controversial within the party: admired by those who value strategic pragmatism, and criticised by others who believe the UCR should have a more autonomous profile. As governor, he became associated with a more disciplined style of provincial administration and with efforts to strengthen institutional control in Mendoza. His leadership has often been read as part of a broader model of **“good administration”** in Argentine provincial politics, especially compared with more ideologically driven or clientelist styles of governing. He has also sought to position Mendoza as a province with its own political agenda, not simply a subordinate player in national negotiations. He is perceived outside his party as a **competent but firm provincial operator**, someone who understands legislative and executive bargaining and who tends to prioritise governability. Supporters see him as a responsible conservative-leaning reformist within Radicalism; critics may describe him as excessively aligned with the centre-right or too willing to accept coalition politics that blur the UCR’s traditional identity. ## Frequently asked questions **Who is Alfredo Cornejo?** Alfredo Cornejo is an Argentine politician from the UCR who is currently Governor of Mendoza. He is one of the most prominent Radical leaders of his generation. **What party does Alfredo Cornejo belong to?** He belongs to the **Unión Cívica Radical (UCR)**, Argentina’s historic centrist party. **What offices has Alfredo Cornejo held?** He has served as **Governor of Mendoza** from 2015 to 2019 and again from 2023 to the present, as **National Senator for Mendoza** from 2021 to 2023, and as **President of the UCR** from 2017 to 2021. **What is Alfredo Cornejo known for politically?** He is known for his emphasis on **fiscal discipline, institutional management, provincial autonomy and security**, as well as for his influential role in shaping Radical Party strategy. **How is Alfredo Cornejo viewed inside the UCR?** He is seen as a powerful and pragmatic provincial leader, though some Radicals criticise his close association with centre-right coalition politics and his influence over party direction. **Is Alfredo Cornejo currently in office?** Yes. He is the **current Governor of Mendoza**, serving since 2023.