Colombia will hold a presidential runoff election between right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella and left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda.

The result sets up a stark ideological clash for the nation's leadership. With no candidate securing a majority in the first round, the final outcome depends on which candidate can build a broader coalition of voters before the second round.

First-round voting took place on Sunday, May 31, 2026 [1]. Polls were open from 10:00 to 18:00 Brasília time [1]. By the end of that day, the count was more than 90% complete [2].

Abelardo de la Espriella, described as a right-wing or extreme-right candidate and an ally of Jair Bolsonaro, currently leads the count [3]. He secured 43% of the votes counted [2]. Because he did not reach the required 50% threshold, the election must proceed to a second round [4].

Iván Cepeda, a left-wing candidate backed by the government, has secured the second spot in the runoff [3]. The transition to a second round is mandatory under Colombian law when no single candidate achieves an absolute majority in the initial vote [4].

The upcoming runoff will determine whether Colombia continues with government-backed left-wing policies or pivots toward the right-wing platform proposed by Espriella [3].

“Colombia will hold a presidential runoff election between right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella and left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda.”

The move to a second round indicates a deeply polarized electorate. Espriella's initial lead suggests significant momentum for the right, but the requirement for a majority means the government-backed Cepeda still has a path to victory by consolidating the left and center-left vote.