2026 Colombian presidential election

31 May 2026 (first round)
21 June 2026 (second round)
Opinion polls
Turnout57.89% (first round) Increase 2.91pp
63.60% (second round) Increase 5.43pp
 
Candidate Abelardo de la Espriella Iván Cepeda
Party Independent[a] Historic Pact
Alliance Defenders of the Homeland Alliance for Life
Running mate José Manuel Restrepo Aida Quilcué
Popular vote 12,959,542 12,708,712
Percentage 49.66% 48.70%
President before election

Gustavo Petro
Historic Pact

 Elected President

Abelardo de la Espriella
(Acording to pre-count)
Independent

The 2026 Colombian presidential elections took place on 31 May 2026 and 21 June 2026 to elect the President and Vice President of the Republic of Colombia for the 2026–2030 term.

The process has been characterized by a climate of intense polarization, given the discussion regarding the popular consultation and the labor reform by the government of President Gustavo Petro. In addition, there was the assassination of the pre-candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay, who died on August 11, 2025, after two months hospitalized, following the attack suffered on June 7, during a rally in the Modelia neighborhood, west of Bogotá.

In June 2026, Independent candidate Abelardo de la Espriella beat Senator Iván Cepeda by a small amount of votes to be elected president.

Legislation

According to the Colombian Constitution, citizens over 18 years of age who are not members of the public security forces, are not subject to interdiction proceedings, and have not been convicted may exercise their right to vote.

Persons in detention centers, such as prisons or reformatories, may vote at the facilities designated by the National Registry. Registration in the civil registry is not automatic; citizens must go to the regional headquarters of the Registry to register their personal identification at a polling station. The election of the president of the republic is held alongside that of the vice president, the latter being the candidate; the president's term in office is four years with no possibility of reelection.

The election process will not be held concurrently with any other process. Article 191 of the Constitution establishes that anyone seeking the office must be Colombian by birth and Colombian nationality, and must also be over thirty years of age.

The first round is held on the last Sunday of May, which in 2022 is the 29th, and the winner is the candidate who receives half plus one of the votes. If neither candidate achieves this weighting of votes, the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round will advance to the second round; the winner is the candidate with the most votes.

Candidates

Declared candidates and registered pre-candidates

Candidate Party[b] Experience Announced Ref.

Vicky Dávila		 Independent
Journalist and television host
 November 2024 [1][2]

Luis Gilberto Murillo

 Colombia Reborn
Minister of Foreign Affairs (2024–2025)
Colombian Ambassador to the United States (2022–2024), Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development (2016–2018), Governor of Chocó (2012)
 22 May 2025 [3]

Claudia López

 Independent

formerly of Green Alliance
Mayor of Bogotá (2020–2024)
Senator (2014–2018)
 3 June 2025 [4][5]

David Luna Sánchez

 Independent

formerly of Radical Change
Senator (2022–2025)
Minister of Information Technologies and Communications (2015–2018), Deputy Minister of Labor (2011–2013), Representative (2006–2010)
 27 January 2025 [6][7]

Juan Daniel Oviedo

 Independent
Councillor of Bogotá (2024–2025)
Director of the National Administrative Department of Statistics (2018–2022)
 31 May 2025 [8][9]

Other

Candidate Party[b] Experience Ref.

Gustavo Bolívar

 Humane Colombia[c]
General Director of Social Prosperity (2024–2025)
Senator (2018–2022)
 [10]

Sergio Fajardo

 Dignity and Commitment
Governor of Antioquia (2012–2016)
Mayor of Medellín (2004–2008)
 [11]

Juan Manuel Galán

 New Liberalism
Senator (2006–2018)
 [12]

Germán Vargas Lleras

 Radical Change
Vice President of Colombia (2014–2017)
Minister of Housing, City and Territory (2012–2013),Minister of the Interior (2011–2012), Minister of the Interior and Justice (2010–2011), President of the Senate (2003–2004) Senator of Colombia (1994–2004)
 [13]

Declined

Campaigns

Assassination of Miguel Uribe Turbay

On June 7, 2025, in the town of Fontibón in Bogotá, in the middle of a political event to determine his party's presidential candidate, the pre-candidate was shot several times, two of which hit him in the head and one in one of his legs.

He was taken to a local medical center, and the alleged hitman of the incident, a 14-year-old minor, was captured at the scene. The case shocked the international community and internally all the country's political parties, who strongly rejected the attack.

He was declared dead in the early hours of August 11, 2025, after hemorrhaging in the central nervous system as a result of the attack.

Opinion polls

2025

Fieldwork date Pollsters Sample Candidates Lead
Davila Galán Fajardo López Cabal Botero Luna Pizarro Gaviria Quintero Vargas Bolívar Oviedo Uribe Peñalosa Caicedo Muhamad Murillo Valencia Corcho Romero Cepeda Others Blank Don't know/No answer None
11 August Miguel Uribe Turbay dies, two months after being shot in Bogotá
21 - 26 April Guarumo/EcoAnalítica 2159 11.6% 4.0% 11.4% 4.7% 4.5% 0.2% 1.2% 2.6% - 3.8% 5.6 % 12.6% 1.5% 4.5% 0.9% 0.5% - - 1.0% 2.5 1.1% 3.5% 4.2% 7.2% 4.2% 5.9% 2.2%
21 - 25 March Invamer[15] 1200 8.3% 7.8% 9.5% 6.8% 4.2% - 0.9% 3.7% 4.4% 4.7% 7.3% 11.8% 0.4% 4.8% 1.2% 1.8 1.1% 0.2% 0.8% 0.9% - 4.4% - 4.1% - - 2.83%
18 - 20 March CNC[16] 1564 13.6% 7.4% 13.4% 9.5% - - - 7.4% - 6.2% 7.9% 10.1% - 6.9% - - - - - - - - - 2.5% 3.4% 11.6% 3.0%
10 - 13 February Guarumo/EcoAnalítica[17] 2140 15.1% 4% 11.5% 4.6% 3.5% - 1.3% 4.1% 0.2% 3.1% 5.2% 11.9% 1.4% 3% - - 1% 0.8% 1.2% 2.2% - - 0.9% 7.1% 2.7% 4.7% 2.2%
27 - 29 January CNC[18] 1513 12.7% 7.8% 11.8% 6.9% 5.6% - 1.7% 4.3% - 4.7% 6.2% 6.7% 4.8% 6.8% - - - 1.8% - 3.1% - - - 5.0% 2.1% 9.7% 3.1%

2024

Fieldwork date Pollsters Sample Candidates Lead
Dávila Galán Fajardo López Cabal Botero Pizarro Gaviria Quintero Márquez Vargas Bolívar Oviedo Uribe Noguera Muhamad Murillo Valencia Others Blank Don't know/No answer None
9 - 12 December Guarumo/EcoAnalítica[19] 2018 13.1% 5.0% 14.5% 5.7% 3.0% 0.4% 3.7% 0.7% 2.8% - 5.0% 8.9% 1.5% 3.2% - 0.3% 0.3% 0.8% - 5.6% 3.6% 7.7% 2.2%
22 - 26 November Invamer[20] 1200 8.6% 7.3% 15.4% 12,6% 1,6% - 4.1% - 6.1% - 9.2% 8.6% 5.5% 3.1% - 1.2% 4.5% 0.9% 2.7% 6.3% - 17.4% 2.83%
18 - 21 November CNC[21] 2000 11.4% 10.0% 13.4% 9.7% 5.8% - 6.8% 2.5% 5.0% - 8.0% 6.5% - 4.2% - - 3.1% - - 2.4% 1.9% 9.4% 2.7%
25 - 28 October Invamer[22] 1504 7.7% 9.7% 10.5% 10.9% 3.6% - 5.1% - 2.6% 4.9% 4.3% 6.5% - 5.4% - - 1.4% - 1.1% 0.6% 7.5% 12.9% 2.53%
7 - 11 September Guarumo/EcoAnalítica[23] 2012 12.2% 5.6% 10.1% 9.4% 6.4% - 4.1% 3.4% 4.6% 4.5% 2.7% 6.2% - 1.3% 3% - - 1.4% - 5.3% 1.3% 9.2% 2.2%
26 August- 4 September CNC[24] 1304 7.5% 10.7% 8.3% 8.6% 4.5% - 5.4% - 1.7% 3.0% 8.1% 4.3% - 6.7% - 1% 2.2% - 22.3% - 5.9% 22.3% 2.7%
31 July - 4 August Guarumo/EcoAnalítica[25] 2023 9.6% 3.1% 9.6% 7.1% 4.4% - 3.6% 2.1% 2.6% 3% 2.6% 4.3% 1.3% 0.8% 3.0% - 1.4% 1.4% - 7.2% 2.5% 12.6% 2.2%
22 - 26 June Guarumo/EcoAnalítica[26] 1998 8.1% 6.2% 6.9% 8.8% 2.8% - 5.5% 1.5% 2.3% 4.2% 2.7% 3.5% 2.0% 1.3% 3.3% - 0.5% 0.7% - 5.9% 4.1% 8.5% 2.2%
7 - 9 May CNC[27] 1030 - 13% 12% 9% 5% - 8% 3% 5% 7% 2% 6% 2% 4% - 1% - - 14% 5% 4% 14% 3.4%

Notes

  1. ↑ Cite error: The named reference MSN was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  2. 1 2 Parties listed are based on current affiliation and do not imply official candidacy nor endorsement of the party listed.
  3. ↑ Bolívar has stated that his candidacy for the Historic Pact for Colombia would be contingent on certain policies.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Davila and Fajardo Lead Colombia's 2026 Presidential Voting Intentions". ColombiaOne. 24 March 2025.
  2. ↑ "Vicky Davila Leads in Poll on Colombia's 2026 Presidential Election". ColombiaOne. 14 February 2025.
  3. ↑ Freixes, Josep (2025-05-23). "Colombia's Ex-Foreign Minister Murillo to Run for President in 2026 Elections". Colombia One. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  4. ↑ "Petro arremetió contra Claudia López tras inscribir su precandidatura presidencial: "No sabe sino de traiciones… Se tiró el metro subterráneo"". Semana (in Spanish). 2025-06-03. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  5. ↑ Lavers, Michael K. (2024-12-10). "Claudia López mum on whether she will run for president of Colombia". Washington Blade. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  6. ↑ Jerez, Daniel (2025-01-27). "David Luna renunció oficialmente al Senado para ser candidato presidencial". RCN Radio (in Spanish).
  7. ↑ Reyes Espinosa, Daniel Esteban (31 May 2025). "David Luna inscribe su comité promotor para las elecciones presidenciales de 2026". Infobae.
  8. ↑ "Juan Daniel Oviedo se despidió como concejal de Bogotá, entre fiestas y celebraciones. Se alista para competir por la Presidencia". Semana (in Spanish). 2025-05-31. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  9. ↑ "Juan Daniel Oviedo inscribió comité de firmas para buscar la Presidencia". Semana (in Spanish). 2025-06-03. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  10. 1 2 "Gustavo Bolívar le lanza ultimátum al Pacto Histórico: si no hay consulta, él no será candidato presidencial en el 2026". Semana (in Spanish). 2025-05-17. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  11. ↑ "Sergio Fajardo, que aspira a la Presidencia, dice que "prefiero perder a ganar haciendo trampa"". Noticias Caracol (in Spanish). 2025-04-02. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  12. ↑ "Juan Manuel Galán se confesó y habló sobre su posible candidatura presidencial en 2026". Semana (in Spanish). 2024-11-29. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  13. ↑ Lewin, Juan Esteban (2025-03-23). "Germán Vargas Lleras, ex vicepresidente de Colombia: "La oposición debe llegar a las elecciones con un solo candidato. Cualquier otra cosa sería un suicidio"". El País América Colombia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  14. ↑ "Francia Márquez descartó ser candidata presidencial en 2026". W Radio (in Spanish). EFE. 2024-10-26. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  15. ↑ "Análisis encuesta Invamer: así están los escenarios para las elecciones 2026 BLU". Blu Radio (in Spanish). 2025-03-28.
  16. ↑ "Vicky Dávila y Sergio Fajardo protagonizan 'cabeza a cabeza' por la Presidencia en el 2026. El otro puntero, Gustavo Bolívar, es la carta más fuerte del petrismo". Semana.com Últimas Noticias de Colombia y el Mundo (in Spanish). 2025-03-22.
  17. ↑ "Vicky Dávila, Gustavo Bolívar y Sergio Fajardo lideran intención de voto para 2026, según encuesta" (PDF) (in Spanish). 2025-02-14.
  18. ↑ "Vicky Dávila lidera en la derecha; Sergio Fajardo, en el centro, y Gustavo Bolívar, en la izquierda: encuesta de CNC para SEMANA". Semana. 2025-01-30.
  19. ↑ "Candidatos con mayor intención de voto en la izquierda, centro y derecha" (PDF) (in Spanish). 2024-12-13.
  20. ↑ La Silla Vacía (2024-11-28). "El top 5 de la encuesta Invamer de cara a las presidenciales 2026". La Silla Vacía (in Spanish).
  21. ↑ "Sergio Fajardo y Vicky Dávila lideran la intención de voto para las presidenciales del 2026: encuesta de CNC para SEMANA". Semana.com Últimas Noticias de Colombia y el Mundo (in Spanish). 2024-11-22.
  22. ↑ "Claudia López lidera intención de voto para presidenciales en Colombia" (PDF) (in Spanish). 2024-11-12.
  23. ↑ "Vicky Dávila, Sergio Fajardo y Claudia López lideran intención de voto para las presidenciales de 2026" (PDF) (in Spanish). 2024-09-12.
  24. ↑ "Juan Manuel Galán, Sergio Fajardo y Claudia López puntean en nueva encuesta para Presidencia de Colombia" (PDF) (in Spanish). 2024-09-15.
  25. ↑ Guarumo (2024-08-06). "Vicky Dávila y Sergio Fajardo puntean intención de voto para Presidencia de Colombia 2026" (PDF). Valora Analitik.
  26. ↑ Guarumo (2024-06-26). "Intención de voto para 2026, según encuesta de Guarumo" (PDF). Valora Analitik.
  27. ↑ Centro Nacional de Consultoría (2024-05-09). "Semana 09-05-24 Presidenciales | PDF | Muestreo (Estadísticas) | Bogotá". Scribd (in Spanish).
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.