Pastor Diana Rodríguez, daughter of former senator John Milton Rodríguez, has decided to enter electoral politics as a candidate for the House of Representatives for Centro Democrático in Valle del Cauca. After a spiritual discernment process, Rodríguez emphasizes her commitment to justice and sound judgment in Congress. Her candidacy is backed by her father as main strategist and councilor Andrés Escobar.
Diana Rodríguez, a graduate in Social Communication and Journalism from Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, holds a master's in Government and Public Management in Latin America from Universidad Complutense and Barcelona School of Management in Spain. With over 15 years as a pastor in the church founded by her father, she has focused her work on youth, adolescents, and families, creating the Sí vale esperar movement, which promotes purpose-based romantic relationships and responsible sexuality to prevent unwanted pregnancies, abortions, complex depressions, and suicides.
Rodríguez recounted that, despite coming from a family with political experience, she rejected the Centro Democrático's invitation for nine months due to security implications her father, former senator and presidential candidate John Milton Rodríguez, faced. "I was a very close witness to what my dad had to suffer," she recalled. However, after prayer and discernment, she accepted, convinced her role would be to "establish justice and call for sound judgment." "God started speaking to me and affirming that yes, he wanted to use me so that in that place, where the country's most important decisions are made, I could legislate," she assured.
Her father is her main political strategist, and she has the support of councilor Andrés Escobar, whom she describes as her disciple in the church. "Andrés Escobar is my disciple… he congregates in our church," she explained, highlighting a relationship of trust and pastoral guidance.
Optimistic about the elections, Rodríguez calculates that Centro Democrático, which currently holds one seat in Valle del Cauca, will secure two, though she dreams of four. "Dreaming, we talk about four seats," she said. Critical of Gustavo Petro's government, she stated: "It has not been a correct government" and that "this neocommunist regime is seeking to finance campaigns and perpetuate itself in power." Despite this, she sees a possible political change through "unity in defense of democracy and offering citizens an alternative based on principles, convictions, and coherence".
