Attorney Sondra Macollins is running for the presidency of Colombia with a platform centered on technology, decentralization, and gender equality.
Her candidacy represents a push for female leadership in a region where gender representation in the highest office remains a central political debate. Macollins said that a woman should lead the country to modernize its systems and protect all citizens.
On March 10, 2026, Macollins presented 1.2 million signatures [1] to the Registraduría to formalize her bid. Other reports indicate she gathered more than 1 million signatures [2] to support her candidacy. She also announced Leonardo Karam Helo as her vice-presidential running mate on that same date [3].
Macollins has gained visibility through her legal career, specifically her role defending controversial figures. She previously served as the attorney for Carlos Lehder following his recapture in 2025 [4]. This experience in high-stakes legal defense informs her current political positioning as a defender of the Colombian people.
"Just as I defended Carlos Lehder, I will do it for any Colombian," Macollins said [5].
Her policy proposals focus on utilizing technology to streamline government services and shifting power away from the central administration through decentralization. She positions these changes as essential steps for the country's modernization. These efforts come as the first round of the presidential election approaches this month [6].
“"Just as I defended Carlos Lehder, I will do it for any Colombian,"”
The entry of a high-profile defense attorney into the presidential race signals a strategy of leveraging legal notoriety to project a persona of unwavering advocacy. By combining a history of defending polarizing figures with a forward-looking platform of technological modernization, Macollins is attempting to bridge the gap between the legal establishment and a populist appeal for systemic reform.
