US Reacts to Results of Colombia’s Presidential Election First Round

Written on 06/01/2026
Josep Freixes
The U.S. State Department commented on today’s presidential election in Colombia, as did Senator Bernie Moreno. Credit: Pxhere.

The U.S. government commented this Sunday on the results of the first round of Colombia’s presidential election, a vote that left right-wing candidate Abelardo De la Espriella and left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda as the leading contenders heading into the runoff election.

Washington’s reaction came just hours after the final preliminary vote-count trends became known and amid a political climate marked by polarization and questions raised by various sectors.

Through an official statement from the State Department, the U.S. administration congratulated Colombia’s electoral authorities on the conduct of the election and highlighted citizen participation in one of the most closely watched electoral processes in recent years.

The statement was also interpreted as a show of support for the country’s democratic institutions and for the transition process toward the presidential runoff scheduled for June 21.

US reacts to results of Colombia’s presidential election first round

In its statement, the State Department highlighted the commitment of millions of Colombians who went to the polls to choose the country’s next head of state and said the election represented a demonstration of democratic strength. The message recognized the work of the authorities responsible for ensuring the integrity of the process and underscored the importance of the results reflecting the will expressed by citizens at the ballot box.

Washington’s position carries particular significance at a sensitive moment for Colombian politics. In recent weeks, the campaign was marked by intense clashes between the candidates, mutual accusations, and concerns related to electoral security. In addition, various national and international actors had insisted on the need to preserve public confidence in the institutions responsible for organizing the election.

In a statement sent to local broadcaster Caracol TV, a State Department spokesperson said that the election is “a decision that belongs to the Colombian people” and that Washington supports Colombians’ right to freely choose the country’s leaders.

“The United States was pleased to join other international missions in observing the strength and resilience of Colombian democracy in action,” they said. They concluded: “We are proud of our friendship with Colombia, which has endured for more than 200 years.”

Sen. Bernie Moreno also comments from Colombia

Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, who participated this Sunday as an international observer in Colombia’s electoral process, also spoke out in the same vein as the State Department.

“As an observer, I am truly honored and filled with pride to have been invited and to have witnessed this historic election. The strong partnership between the United States and Colombia remains essential, especially given the need to maintain close security cooperation in addressing shared challenges,” Moreno wrote on X.

The U.S. senator congratulated the winner of the first round, far-right populist Abelardo De la Espriella. “Congratulations to Abelardo De la Espriella for receiving the most votes. The beauty of democracy was on full display as the people of Colombia exercised their power to chart their future, in their own hands, with their own voices.”