Cepeda Emerges as Front-Runner in Colombia's Presidential Race

Iván Cepeda Castro is expected to enter the first round of Colombia’s 2026 presidential election as the candidate to beat, with the contest shaping up around his support among left-leaning voters and broader anti-establishment sentiment. The vote, scheduled for May 31, is likely to be closely watched as parties and alliances make their final push in the campaign’s closing weeks.

If no candidate secures an outright majority, Colombia would move to a runoff on June 21. Even so, Cepeda’s standing suggests he could finish first in the opening round, setting up a decisive second phase of the race and putting his campaign in a strong position heading into the final stretch.