Overview
- Preliminary counts from the May 31 first round showed Abelardo de la Espriella leading with about 43.7% and Ivan Cepeda second with about 40.9%, sending the race to a June 21 runoff.
- Electoral authorities have said the vote will be verified through the normal official tallying process while Petro allies and Cepeda questioned the preliminary numbers without alleging fraud.
- De la Espriella campaigns on a hardline security plan that includes mega-prisons, bombing drug camps, tighter cooperation with foreign militaries and threats of lethal force for criminals.
- Cepeda casts himself as Gustavo Petro’s political heir who would extend social programs that raised wages and cut poverty while continuing negotiation-based peace efforts with armed groups.
- The campaign is intensifying in the face of the worst surge of violence since the 2016 peace accord, including a deadly April bombing in Cauca and targeted killings that have made security the dominant voter concern.