Colombia’s presidential election first round delivered a result on Sunday that few had anticipated at the start of the day: the decisive victory of right-wing populist candidate Abelardo De la Espriella.
Against most forecasts and polls that had for months placed government-backed candidate Ivan Cepeda as the favorite to lead the vote, the lawyer and businessman managed to win convincingly, becoming the clear winner of election night.
The result opens a new political scenario for Colombia and confirms the deep polarization currently gripping the country. De la Espriella and Cepeda will face off in a runoff election to be held on June 21, in a contest that will pit two opposing ideological projects against each other and promises to be one of the most intense campaigns in Colombia’s recent history.
The results are clear: Abelardo De la Espriella received over 10,3 million votes (43.74%), followed by his opponent in the runoff, Ivan Cepeda, who trailed the winner by about 670,000 votes (40.90%). Voter turnout exceeded 57% of the registered electorate.
Related: De la Espriella and Cepeda Lead Colombia’s Presidential Vote Count.
Related: US Reacts to Results of Colombia’s Presidential Election First Round.
Colombian Presidential Election Results: De la Espriella Scores a Surprise First-Round Victory
De la Espriella’s victory is the day’s main political story. For much of the campaign, polls gave an advantage to the government-backed candidate, the political heir of President Gustavo Petro and supported by the left-wing Historic Pact party. However, the results revealed a different reality.
The Defenders of the Homeland (Defensores de la Patria, in Spanish) candidate succeeded in consolidating broad support across numerous departments of the country, particularly in regions where his tough-on-crime message, direct criticism of the government, and promises to reduce the size of the state found a favorable reception among voters. His campaign, built on a confrontational style and direct communication with the electorate, managed to mobilize sectors calling for a change of direction after four years of progressive government.
The scale of the victory surprised even analysts and political observers. Although some recent surveys had detected De la Espriella’s steady growth during the final weeks of the campaign, most polls still placed Cepeda in first place in voting intentions.
¡Vamos a derrotar la tiranía y el absolutismo!
Pasamos a segunda vuelta gracias a los más de 10 millones de colombianos que respondieron al rugido.
¡En 21 días haremos historia!
Los espero en el cubo de cristal del Malecón del Río, para celebrar juntos esta victoria.
Hoy más… pic.twitter.com/wf7ANOusVZ
— Abelardo De La Espriella (@ABDELAESPRIELLA) May 31, 2026
Cepeda holds on and advances to the runoff. Paloma Valencia collapses
Despite the setback of failing to achieve the victory predicted by the polls, Ivan Cepeda secured second place and a spot in the runoff, although the math appears to leave his candidacy with few chances in the second vote.
The senator and government-backed candidate nevertheless maintained a solid electoral base in the country’s major urban centers and in regions where the policies promoted by Petro’s government continue to enjoy high levels of support. His campaign defended the continuation of the social reforms implemented in recent years and presented the runoff as a choice between deepening the changes initiated by the left or making a sharp turn toward conservative positions.
The result allows Cepeda to remain with a realistic chance of reaching the Casa de Nariño—the presidential palace—although he now faces a far more complex campaign than expected. The government’s task will be to expand its electoral base and attract voters from the candidacies eliminated in the first round.
Another notable development of the day was Paloma Valencia’s poor performance. The Democratic Center candidate entered the race as one of the leading contenders of the traditional right but finished far behind the top two candidates.
Her result confirms the reconfiguration of Colombia’s conservative political space and the rise of more disruptive and populist leadership figures. A large share of right-wing voters chose to support De la Espriella, whose campaign succeeded in presenting itself as a stronger alternative to the government.
Valencia’s defeat also represents a blow to political sectors associated with traditional Uribismo, which for years dominated Colombia’s conservative spectrum.
Related: Colombia’s Petro Refuses to Accept Election Results.
A runoff marked by polarization
The advancement of De la Espriella and Cepeda sets the stage for a runoff of enormous ideological polarization. More than a competition between two candidates, the June 21 election appears to be a confrontation between two completely different visions for the country’s future.
On one side will be De la Espriella, who proposes tougher security policies, reduced state intervention, and a discourse inspired by figures such as Nayib Bukele and Donald Trump. On the other, Cepeda will defend the continuation of the social reforms promoted by the left and greater state intervention to combat inequality.
The first-round result makes clear that Colombia is going through one of its most politically divided moments in recent decades. Abelardo De la Espriella’s surprise victory has upended all expectations and transformed an election that appeared headed toward a government-backed victory into an open and unpredictable battle.
Over the coming weeks, both candidates will seek to win over moderate voters and those who supported defeated candidates. What already seems beyond dispute is that the runoff will pit two opposing projects against one another and make June 21 a decisive date for Colombia’s political future.
Related: How Did Overseas Voting Unfold in Colombia’s Presidential Election?