Overview
- The presidential runoff is scheduled for June 21, 2026, and polls heading into the vote show Abelardo de la Espriella ahead of Iván Cepeda by roughly 52.6% to 44.8%.
- De la Espriella runs a nationalist, law‑and‑order campaign that promises a stepped‑up military offensive, abolition of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), use of military symbolism at rallies, and he received a public endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump.
- Cepeda vows to continue President Gustavo Petro’s 'total peace' approach and to deepen social and economic reforms, and his campaign has been energized by young K‑pop supporters using social media, dances and symbols to mobilize votes.
- Security is the central issue: a Reuters security report shows armed groups grew from about 13,000 members in 2022 to roughly 25,000 by mid‑2026, eroding state control in rural areas and prompting calls for both military rebuilding and social programs to cut criminal revenues.
- The campaign is highly polarized and fraught with legitimacy risks, as victims fear a return of past abuses if security forces are empowered, election authorities face coercion and fraud complaints, and international observers and humanitarian groups have warned about rising violence and civilian harm.