Opposition candidate wins in Venezuela's cradle of Chavismo

Voters in the home state of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez on Sunday picked an opposition candidate for governor in a closely watched special election.

The election was called after another opposition candidate in November's regular contest - Freddy Superlano - was retroactively disqualified while he was ahead in the vote count. Sunday’s ballot saw Sergio Garrido, the replacement opposition candidate; defeat former foreign minister Jorge Arreaza.

Arreaza's campaign had drawn ruling party heavy hitters in an all-out effort to keep the bastion of Chavismo under their control - but to no avail. Results published by the National Electoral Council showed Garrido, a local leader unknown to most of the country, with 55.4% of the votes, while Arreaza received 41.3%.