President Daniel Ortega, of the Sandinista National Liberation, is eyeing a fourth consecutive term along with his wife Rosario Murillo, who serves as his vice president.

But after several arrests of potential political opponents, the international community question whether the political playing field in the country is plain, impartial, and fair.

In June 2021, the government arrested five opposition pre-candidates for president: Cristiana Chamorro Barrios, Arturo Cruz Jr., Félix Maradiaga, Juan Sebastián Chamorro and Miguel Mora. In July candidates Medardo Mairena and Noel Vidaurre were arrested, and Luis Fley and María Asunción Moreno went into exile citing threats of arrest.

On 3 August vice-presidential candidate Berenice Quezada was placed under house arrest and disqualified. Her party, Citizens for Liberty, and its presidential candidate Oscar Sobalvarro had their legal status suspended by the Supreme Electoral Council the following week and Constitutionalist Liberal Party candidate Milton Arcia resigned in protest.