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Colombia right wing candidate de la Espriella, leftist Cepeda poised to head to run-off

By Julia Symmes Cobb Reuters
Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo De La Espriella of the political movement Defenders of the Homeland arrives to vote at a polling station during the first round of the presidential election, in Barranquilla, Colombia May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Charlie Cordero
Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo De La Espriella of the political movement Defenders of the Homeland arrives to vote at a polling station during the first round of the presidential election, in Barranquilla, Colombia May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Charlie Cordero Charlie Cordero Reuters

BOGOTA - Colombian right wing outsider Abelardo de la Espriella is poised to compete in a runoff in the country's presidential race against leftist senator Ivan Cepeda, data from the country's national registry office showed on Sunday, after no candidate reached the more than 50% support needed to avoid a second round with a majority of votes counted.

De la Espriella and Cepeda were running extremely close in tallies, with the right wing lawyer notching 44.2% support and the long-time senator and activist 41%.

(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb)

Colombian presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the Historic Pact party looks on at a polling station during the first round of the presidential election, in Bogota, Colombia May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez
Colombian presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the Historic Pact party looks on at a polling station during the first round of the presidential election, in Bogota, Colombia May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez Luisa Gonzalez Reuters

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 2:41 AM.

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