Venezuela's Socialists risk losing power in late leader's home state

FILE PHOTO: A pro-government supporter holds a poster of late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez during an event by Carmen Melendez, the ruling party's candidate for mayor of Caracas, in Caracas, Venezuela October 29, 2021. Picture taken October 29, 2021. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelans on Thursday were awaiting election results from former President Hugo Chavez's home state, a stronghold for the ruling Socialist Party, four days after millions of people cast ballots in regional contests across the South American nation.

President Nicolas Maduro's Socialists won 19 of the 23 governorships in Sunday's vote, with the opposition taking three, according to a tally provided by the National Electoral Council on Monday.