De la Espriella secures Colombia presidential run-off after overturning poll predictions
Outgoing President Gustavo Petro and Cepeda initially questioned preliminary results citing potential irregularities, though Cepeda later acknowledged no evidence of fraud.
Far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella has defeated left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda in the first round of Colombia’s presidential election, securing 43.74 percent of the vote compared to Cepeda’s 40.90 percent. The result upended pre-election polling and established a run-off between the two candidates scheduled for 21 June 2026. De la Espriella’s victory was attributed to populist messaging on law and order, which resonated particularly in central regions, while Cepeda retained support in coastal and border areas.
De la Espriella, a criminal defence lawyer with no prior elected office experience, modelled his campaign on figures such as Donald Trump and Javier Milei, pledging law and order, a pared-back government, and traditional family values. He promised to use an iron fist to combat crime and build megaprisons, mirroring policies associated with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. His campaign successfully framed the election as a choice between Los Nunca, those ignored by the government, and Los Siempre, the established elite.
Electoral maps show de la Espriella besting Cepeda in 16 of the country’s 32 departments, primarily in the heart of Colombia and along the border with Venezuela. Laura Bonilla, deputy director at the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation, noted that voters in central areas prioritised security concerns. In contrast, de la Espriella’s security messaging failed to sway voters along the coast and in border areas affected by rebel violence, where socioeconomic issues and state development projects from the Petro administration remained significant.
Traditional conservative candidate Paloma Valencia finished third with less than seven percent of the vote, significantly underperforming polls. Valencia was backed by former President Alvaro Uribe, but her running mate, Juan Daniel Oviedo, did not endorse de la Espriella despite her support. Centrist candidate Sergio Fajardo received more than a million votes, adding to the pool of potential swing votes in the upcoming run-off.
Outgoing President Gustavo Petro rejected the preliminary results, citing potential electoral fraud and urging the public to wait for the official count. Senator Cepeda initially echoed Petro’s scepticism but later acknowledged there was no evidence of irregularities in the vote count. He trailed de la Espriella by more than 670,000 votes, with experts warning that focusing on fraud allegations may cost him moderate voters in the final three weeks.
