Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 19: Former North America Representative for H.H. the Dalai Lama, Kelsang Dorjee (Kaydor) Aukatsang announced his candidacy for the 2026 presidential elections of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) on Wednesday, entering what is expected to be a closely watched race for the top executive office of the Tibetan exile polity.
In a public announcement issued on his Facebook handle on Nov. 19 morning and accompanied by the release of his campaign manifesto, Kaydor said he was stepping forward “with humility and a deep sense of duty” at a time he described as a “pivotal moment” for the Tibetan community.
Kaydor, the founding President of the Asia Freedom Institute and a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, emphasized that China’s intensifying repression in Tibet, coupled with growing demographic pressures and polarization in exile, demanded “steady leadership, renewed unity, and a clear strategic direction.”
Kaydor has held several senior leadership roles within the CTA, including serving as the representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Washington, DC, Special Advisor to the former President Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the CTA’s Chief Resilience Officer, and the Director of the Social and Resource Development Fund (SARD). He previously contested the 2021 presidential election and bagged 28,907 votes in the final round of elections.
Reflecting on his nationwide tour during the 2021 elections, the candidate said he witnessed firsthand the resilience and concerns of Tibetan communities across India, Europe, and North America. While he had not intended to run again, he said many Tibetans urged him to step forward after “credible alternatives failed to emerge.”
“After thoughtful reflection and discussion with my family, I have decided to do so,” he wrote. “Our democracy deserves meaningful choice, and our community deserves a clear path forward.”
Kaydor’s manifesto outlines three primary commitments such as strengthening unity across generations, regions, and the global diaspora, rebalancing the CTA around its fundamental mission by intensifying global advocacy, increasing resource investment, and pursuing a “Look North” strategy, and strengthening the community’s self-reliance and financial resilience by recovering lost resources, diversifying support, and building a stable institutional and financial foundation.
He called on Tibetans worldwide to join his campaign, share ideas, and participate in shaping the next phase of the exile administration. “Together, we can build unity, empower the CTA, and advance Tibet’s rightful cause on the world stage,” Kaydor wrote.
Kaydor also holds a Master’s degree in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University and a Bachelor’s degree in English literature from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi.
His declaration makes him the second candidate, along with incumbent CTA President Penpa Tsering, to formally enter the race since the Election Commission released the election schedule. His entry is expected to add momentum to the 2026 presidential election as more candidates are likely to announce their bids in the coming months.
