Trump-Backed de la Espriella Claims Narrow Victory in Colombia Election as Rival Cepeda Refuses to Concede

A closely contested presidential runoff in Colombia has resulted in a narrow victory for hard-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, who secured just under half of the vote in preliminary results, according to official electoral data.

With nearly all ballots counted, de la Espriella led with around 49.7%, edging out left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda, who finished with roughly 48.7%. The razor-thin margin left the outcome politically tense, with de la Espriella declaring victory while his opponent withheld concession.

In his victory remarks, de la Espriella emphasized national unity and democratic governance. “Mine will be an absolutely democratic government and a guarantor of freedom and institutional order,” he said, adding that he intends to represent all citizens regardless of political affiliation.

He also declared that he had received direct congratulations from U.S. President Donald Trump, framing the outcome as part of broader international support. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also publicly congratulated him, stating Washington looked forward to working with the incoming administration on security cooperation, migration control, and economic ties.

Cepeda, however, stopped short of accepting defeat. He said the process would only be acknowledged after final verification of results. “Once the count has been completed and its final result is known, and the corresponding checks have been carried out, we will acknowledge the official result,” he said, while his camp prepared to challenge the outcome across thousands of polling stations.

Outgoing President Gustavo Petro warned against premature conclusions, saying neither candidate should yet be declared the winner and calling for calm as the counting process continued. He also argued that foreign influence was becoming a factor in domestic politics and insisted he would respect the final judicial determination.

De la Espriella, a lawyer who has never previously held public office and is known for his tough-on-crime rhetoric, campaigned heavily on promises to dismantle armed groups and drug networks. He has been widely compared to other hardline regional leaders and has publicly aligned his rhetoric with former U.S. President Donald Trump.

He presented himself as a security-focused candidate, pledging a hardline approach to organized crime. “Today is the most important ballot in Colombia’s history,” he said during voting day remarks, describing his campaign as a fight against cartels and guerrilla violence.

Cepeda, meanwhile, built his campaign around social reform, inequality reduction, and support for vulnerable communities, drawing backing from progressive voters and the current administration. He positioned his candidacy as a continuation of social policies and warned against reversing recent reforms.

Security concerns dominated the election context. Colombia continues to face armed groups linked to the remnants of the FARC insurgency, despite the 2016 peace agreement. Dissident factions remain active, contributing to ongoing violence, targeted killings, and instability in rural regions.

The country has also experienced rising homicide levels in recent years, with officials recording nearly 15,000 killings in 2025, reflecting persistent clashes between illegal armed groups and criminal networks.

Tensions also surfaced on election day itself, as protests erupted in parts of the country, including clashes with security forces. Demonstrations included both opposition to the result and public celebrations by supporters of the winning candidate, underscoring a sharply divided political landscape.

In the aftermath, de la Espriella signaled a firm stance toward his opponents, while also attempting to reassure broader society. “I will govern for all Colombians, for those who voted for me and for those who choose another candidate,” he said, even as political and legal disputes over the final outcome remained unresolved.