Abelardo de la Espriella Pulls Ahead in Colombian Presidential Race

With just days remaining until the June 21 runoff, right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has captured 52.6% of voter support, creating a notable gap over his leftist opponent, Ivan Cepeda. The latest AtlasIntel polling suggests a difficult path forward for the candidate aligned with President Gustavo Petro.

Editorial·June 11, 2026·reads: 1,667

Abelardo de la Espriella Pulls Ahead in Colombian Presidential Race

The current polling puts Cepeda at 44.8%, highlighting the steep climb his campaign faces to secure the presidency. This election represents a fundamental choice for the country, pitting two divergent ideologies against one another.

Cepeda advocates for the continuation and expansion of President Petro’s social reform agenda alongside active peace negotiations with various armed groups. In sharp contrast, De la Espriella campaigns on a platform prioritizing a hardline security stance and a business-friendly economic strategy. These opposing visions have defined the final weeks of the campaign, leaving voters to decide between the current administration's trajectory and a shift toward conservative governance.