Overview
- The first-round vote on May 31, 2026, took place under a huge security operation intended to curb campaign violence and protect polling, with the government deploying roughly 408,000 law-enforcement officers.
- Polls before the vote showed Historic Pact candidate Iván Cepeda leading but short of a majority so a June 21 runoff between the top two finishers is widely expected.
- Right-wing challengers Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia ran on tougher military and counternarcotics measures that would scrap parts of Petro’s negotiated 'Total Peace' approach.
- The campaign was marred by assassinations, bombings and targeted attacks and humanitarian groups say violence drove roughly 235,000 people from their homes in 2025, raising fears about voter intimidation and rural control by armed groups.
- Analysts warn the next president will inherit steep fiscal strains after expanded social spending under Petro and that the election outcome could quickly reshape Colombia’s cooperation with the U.S. on counternarcotics and security.