Antoine Valentin, the Union des droites pour la République (UDR) candidate backed by Éric Ciotti, led the first round of a partial legislative election in Haute-Savoie on Sunday with about 45% of the votes. Supported by the Rassemblement national (RN), he outpaced Les Républicains (LR) candidate Christophe Fournier, who received 15%. This vote, weeks before municipal elections, tests right-wing strategies regarding an alliance with the RN.
The first round of the partial legislative election in Haute-Savoie's 3rd constituency took place on Sunday, January 25, 2026, following the resignation of LR deputy Christelle Petex on November 6. Elected in 2021, she had lamented 'too much politicienne politics.' With low turnout of 31.28%, Antoine Valentin, UDR candidate supported by the RN, secured about 45% of valid votes, five points more than in the 2024 legislative first round.
Describing the result as 'historic,' Éric Ciotti stated in a press release that it 'demonstrates that the UDR-RN alliance today embodies the only credible national dynamic on the right.' On X, Marine Le Pen praised this outcome and that in the Loiret, saying 'the alternation and the political program that the RN embodies in alliance with the UDR are more than ever supported and hoped for by the French.' RN president Jordan Bardella mocked the LR candidate's 'rout' on X, blaming it on 'the cacophony and constant flip-flops among the LR.'
Christophe Fournier (LR) placed second with 15%, down from Mme Petex's 32% in 2024. LR leaders Bruno Retailleau and Laurent Wauquiez supported him together the previous week. On the divided left, Anthony Penhouët (Place Publique-PS) got 13% and called to vote against the far right. Raphaël Glucksmann had warned he would not let this constituency become 'a laboratory of the far right.' Nicolas Gavoille's LFI list received 6.5%, behind Boris Avouac's unaffiliated 'Democratic Solution' list (7.6%).
In 2024, the united left had reached 24% and withdrawn for a republican front, enabling the LR candidate's win. The second round is set for February 1, 2026. This by-election, ahead of the March 15 and 22 municipal polls, pits right-wing strategies: LR against RN alliance, versus Ciotti's pro-alliance UDR formed in 2024.
