Colombians Vote in Presidential Runoff Election

Colombians voted in a presidential runoff election on Sunday, and according to preliminary results, a White House-backed conservative looks poised to win.

With nearly 90% of ballot boxes counted, hard-right Abelardo de la Espriella garnered 50.5% of the vote, according to data from the national registry office.

Leftist rival Ivan Cepeda was around 427,000 votes off the pace with 48.25% of votes going his way.

Who are the frontrunners

Abelardo de la Espriella has often portrayed himself as a tough crime fighter and has also spoken in support of US President Donald Trump.

De la Espriella calls himself "The Tiger" and won May's first round vote, promising to wage war on cartels and guerrilla groups.

The 47-year-old businessman's campaign style has drawn comparisons with right-wing president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele.

"Today is the most important ballot in Colombia's history," he said as he cast his vote in Barranquilla.

Left-leaning senator, Ivan Cepeda, has sought the backing of progressives and the poor, with promises to expand social reforms.

He has the backing of incumbent President Gustavo Petro.

"When we win, we are going to govern for the whole country and not just for one sector," 63-year-old Cepeda told journalists, as his supporters chanted: "The people are with you!"

Colombia's security challenge

Colombia has struggled with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, guerrilla movement for decades. In 2016, a historic peace accord was signed, in which the FARC agreed to fully disarm.

However, dissident branches of the former guerrilla group are still active and are blamed forviolence targeting former guerrillas and social leaders.

In 2025, authorities recorded 14,780 homicides, the most since at least 2015 and most driven by clashes among illegal armed groups.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko