{"id":1238,"date":"2026-06-21T08:53:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T08:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/?p=1238"},"modified":"2026-06-21T08:53:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T08:53:01","slug":"colombians-vote-in-a-presidential-runoff-that-pits-an-outsider-against-a-progressive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/?p=1238","title":{"rendered":"Colombians vote in a presidential runoff that pits an outsider against a progressive"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/0bade4a\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x1999+0+1\/resize\/980x653!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F45%2F76%2Ff049aa7edffad31e3194824c0a7a%2F94241a3eb9ac43779de544607b771198\" width=\"100%\" \/><small>In this combination of photos shows presidential candidates Abelardo de la Espriella, left, on May 6, 2026, and Ivan Cepeda on May 31, 2026, in Bogota, Colombia. (AP Photo)<\/small><\/p>\n<p>2026-06-21T07:00:41Z<\/p>\n<p>BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) \u2014 A deeply divided electorate will choose <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/colombia-president-election-petro-trump-c8b2170044646266ccdfce0e8bfb1bfb\">Colombia\u2019s next president in a runoff<\/a><\/span> on Sunday that pits a progressive against a conservative outsider, with both candidates tapping into <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/colombia-election-divisions-farc-espriella-cepeda-cded6e8196667c99da5edc5914a57146\">fears of a renewed internal conflict<\/a><\/span> in the country.<\/p>\n<p>Voters will choose between businessman and lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and Iv\u00e1n Cepeda, a lawmaker and heir to the political movement of outgoing President <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/gustavo-petro\">Gustavo Petro<\/a><\/span>, the nation\u2019s first leftist leader. The two defeated nine other contenders in a May 31 vote.<\/p>\n<p>Both are pitching strategies that they say will prevent the South American country from experiencing the <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/colombia-eln-police-hostages-released-elections-7d138bb0aa73fd966ad3e3eb61e800df\">nonstop merciless violence, such as car bombs, kidnappings<\/a><\/span>, disappearances and forced displacements that Colombians lived with in previous decades. <\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Supporters of Historic Pact coalition presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda attend his campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara)\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/8355dd2\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fe3%2Fba%2Fd8d3d75807e697ff06b1cebc4a74%2F83d12a817758432f891eb050dfd69285\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>Supporters of Historic Pact coalition presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda attend his campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara)<\/figcaption><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>            <button data-bsp-carousel-overlayclose><br \/>\n                <svg><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p>                <br \/>\n            <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Supporters of Historic Pact coalition presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda attend his campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara)\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/8355dd2\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8640x5760+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fe3%2Fba%2Fd8d3d75807e697ff06b1cebc4a74%2F83d12a817758432f891eb050dfd69285\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<p>                            <button><br \/>\n                                <svg><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p>                                <br \/>\n                            Supporters of Historic Pact coalition presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda attend his campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara)<\/p>\n<p>&lt;!&#8211;            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=ap%20news\">&#8211;&gt;<br \/>\n            <button data-action-clicked=\"clickGooglePreferredSource\"><br \/>\n                Add AP News on Google <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 18\">\n                <path d=\"M2.33333 3.99999H0.666666V15.6667C0.666666 16.5833 1.41667 17.3333 2.33333 17.3333H14V15.6667H2.33333V3.99999ZM15.6667 0.666656H5.66667C4.75 0.666656 4 1.41666 4 2.33332V12.3333C4 13.25 4.75 14 5.66667 14H15.6667C16.5833 14 17.3333 13.25 17.3333 12.3333V2.33332C17.3333 1.41666 16.5833 0.666656 15.6667 0.666656ZM15.6667 12.3333H5.66667V2.33332H15.6667V12.3333ZM9.83333 10.6667H11.5V8.16666H14V6.49999H11.5V3.99999H9.83333V6.49999H7.33333V8.16666H9.83333V10.6667Z\" fill=\"#191919\"><\/path>\n            <\/svg><br \/>\n                <span><br \/>\n        Add AP News as your preferred source to see 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(AP Photo\/Santiago Saldarriaga)\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/7e0a485\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6124x4082+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F55%2F18%2Fd421cb2ddfb14cffd0e29d030aee%2F59ff2bd65c60433f922fa023865db936\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>Supporters of presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella attend his campaign rally in Buga, Colombia, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Santiago Saldarriaga)<\/figcaption><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>            <button data-bsp-carousel-overlayclose><br \/>\n                <svg><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p>                <br \/>\n            <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Supporters of presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella attend his campaign rally in Buga, Colombia, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Santiago Saldarriaga)\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/7e0a485\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6124x4082+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F55%2F18%2Fd421cb2ddfb14cffd0e29d030aee%2F59ff2bd65c60433f922fa023865db936\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<p>                            <button><br \/>\n                                <svg><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p>                                <br \/>\n                            Supporters of presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella attend his campaign rally in Buga, Colombia, Sunday, June 14, 2026. 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the country\u2019s struggling health system, ballooning public debt and entrenched corruption.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRight now, what worries me is the polarization that exists between us: there are two very extreme sides, and the violence is concerning,\u201d John Manrique, a lawyer in the capital, Bogota, said as he walked his dog. <\/p>\n<p>    <a><\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <!-- AP \"Read More\" embed (place mid-article) --><\/p>\n<p>  <button type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><br \/>\n    Read More <span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><br \/>\n  <\/button><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat I hope is that people accept who won,\u201d he added. \u201cLet\u2019s accept it, regardless of the side, and try to reach a social consensus. \u2026 Let\u2019s not go out and fight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the first round, Cepeda earned 41% of the vote, while de la Espriella garnered 44%, according to official results. Petro, without evidence, sowed doubts in the results after Cepeda, who had consistently lead polls ahead of the May vote, did not win outright and even finished behind de la Espriella.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Fighting between rebel groups plagues the nation<\/h2>\n\n<p>The election comes 10 years after <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/colombia\">Colombia<\/a><\/span> signed a historic peace pact with guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, that had offered hope to break the nation\u2019s vicious cycle of <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/colombia-dissidents-peace-talks-farc-disarm-39d2c41cf870ad43d6a610b8cafd1c51\">fighting between rebel groups<\/a><\/span> and the government.<\/p>\n<p>But violence has since roared back, particularly as most rebel groups abandoned their ideologically driven fight for the financial benefits of drug trafficking.<\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Historic Pact coalition presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda waves during a campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara)\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/c753306\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6417x4278+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F38%2F7c%2Fe8a01621aebd1190ec78da79d1d4%2Fa8b6dc58961f4394b0ecb9de13d54c61\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>Historic Pact coalition presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda waves during a campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara)<\/figcaption><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>            <button data-bsp-carousel-overlayclose><br \/>\n                <svg><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p>                <br \/>\n            <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Historic Pact coalition presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda waves during a campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara)\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/c753306\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6417x4278+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F38%2F7c%2Fe8a01621aebd1190ec78da79d1d4%2Fa8b6dc58961f4394b0ecb9de13d54c61\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<p>                            <button><br \/>\n                                <svg><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p>                                <br \/>\n                            Historic Pact coalition presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda waves during a campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, Saturday, June 13, 2026. 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(AP Photo\/Santiago Saldarriaga)\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/66da509\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4869x3246+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fc9%2Fe3%2Ffaae53706f41cbafcc38913b7cd9%2F9e63b24087f1428fa0d35514d28e74b4\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella stands before supporters from inside a bulletproof booth during his campaign rally in Buga, Colombia, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Santiago Saldarriaga)<\/figcaption><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>            <button data-bsp-carousel-overlayclose><br \/>\n                <svg><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p>                <br \/>\n            <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella stands before supporters from inside a bulletproof booth during his campaign rally in Buga, Colombia, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Santiago Saldarriaga)\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/66da509\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4869x3246+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fc9%2Fe3%2Ffaae53706f41cbafcc38913b7cd9%2F9e63b24087f1428fa0d35514d28e74b4\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<p>                            <button><br \/>\n                                <svg><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p>                                <br \/>\n                            Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella stands before supporters from inside a bulletproof booth during his campaign rally in Buga, Colombia, Sunday, June 14, 2026. 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Among those killed was <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/colombia-miguel-uribe-senator-shooting-dead-bogota-6c8f32b5e23bedec5f634dee5e334042\">conservative presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe<\/a><\/span>. Extortions have also soared, reaching 13,417 cases in 2025, more than double the number tallied in 2015.<\/p>\n<p>    <a><\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <!-- AP Morning Wire Newsletter Embed (self-contained) --><\/p>\n<p>  <!-- Red AP Prompt Bar --><\/p>\n<p>    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"6\" viewbox=\"0 0 48 6\"><\/svg><\/p>\n<p>    <\/p>\n<p>    <strong>Sign up for Morning Wire:<\/strong><br \/>\n    Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.<\/p>\n<p>        <label for=\"ap-newsletter-email-nlmw25\">Email address<\/label><\/p>\n<p>      <button type=\"submit\"><br \/>\n        Sign up<br \/>\n      <\/button><\/p>\n<p>      <label><\/label><\/p>\n<p>        <span><br \/>\n          By checking this box, you agree to AP&#8217;s<br \/>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/termsofservice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Terms of Use<\/a><br \/>\n          and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our<br \/>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/privacystatement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<br \/>\n        <\/span><br \/>\n      <\/p>\n<p role=\"alert\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<\/p>\n<p>More than 41 million people are eligible to vote on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>De la Espriella, a political newcomer nicknamed \u201cThe Tiger,\u201d has promised to fiercely go after criminals and build 10 mega-prisons, emulating the policies of El Salvador\u2019s President Nayib Bukele that have lowered homicide rates but have fueled accusations of human rights abuses.<\/p>\n<p>Cepeda wants to carry on Petro\u2019s <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/colombia-total-peace-gustavo-petro-armed-conflict-d213efd008f73004da8269740b592a70\">fraught signature plan to achieve \u201ctotal peace\u201d<\/a><\/span> by negotiating pacts with guerrillas and criminal gangs. The heavily criticized strategy that Petro kicked off in 2022 took until Thursday to see the first armed group \u2014 one with about 100 members \u2014 give up its weapons and begin a resettlement process that will lead to their reintegration into civilian life. Colombia\u2019s illegal groups have more than 27,000 members. <\/p>\n<p>Yamile Guevara, a retired teacher in Bogota, said Petro\u2019s plans need more time to bear results as he could not reasonably be expected to make lasting changes in a conflict that has gone on for six decades. She also criticized what she described as voters\u2019 perennial distrust of Colombia\u2019s left over its long-held association with rebel groups. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe left has always been viewed negatively; it has been harsh, and many people have died,\u201d Guevara, a Cepeda supporter, said. \u201cSo, one wonders what\u2019s wrong with people who have forgotten history \u2026 how can they not think carefully about which candidate they are going to elect?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The lead-up to the runoff has seen an <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/colombia-election-de-la-espriella-cepeda-petro-722833bead46234571e245e4f00da249\">increase in verbal attacks between the candidates<\/a><\/span> as well as accusations of fraud, vote-buying and intimidation. <\/p>\n<p>Cepeda filed a complaint with the Colombian Attorney General\u2019s Office and the International Criminal Court against de la Espriella, accusing him of having ties to paramilitary groups. De la Espriella has denied the accusation.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this combination of photos shows presidential candidates Abelardo de la Espriella, left, on May 6, 2026, and Ivan Cepeda on May 31, 2026, in Bogota, Colombia. (AP Photo) 2026-06-21T07:00:41Z BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) \u2014 A deeply divided electorate will choose Colombia\u2019s next president in a runoff on Sunday that pits a progressive against a conservative&hellip;&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","neve_meta_reading_time":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1238"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1238\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}