2026 Colombian presidential election

Colombia stands on the cusp of a pivotal presidential election in 2026, poised to choose a new leader as its current president, Gustavo Petro, is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election. This upcoming race is set to be a vibrant contest, shaped by recent political shifts and a dynamic roster of candidates vying for the nation's highest office. The results will undoubtedly chart a new course for this influential South American nation, making it a crucial moment to observe. The 2026 election will bring a new face to Colombia's presidency, as incumbent Gustavo Petro cannot seek a second term, ensuring a fresh political landscape. The electoral race features a diverse field of candidates from major political blocs, including the left-leaning Historic Pact and the conservative Democratic Centre, reflecting broad societal currents. Public opinion and recent political scandals have significantly influenced the campaign, creating a highly unpredictable and closely watched contest that could swing either way.

Source: Wikipedia

AI Summary

The 2026 election will bring a new face to Colombia's presidency, as incumbent Gustavo Petro cannot seek a second term, ensuring a fresh political landscape.
The electoral race features a diverse field of candidates from major political blocs, including the left-leaning Historic Pact and the conservative Democratic Centre, reflecting broad societal currents.
Public opinion and recent political scandals have significantly influenced the campaign, creating a highly unpredictable and closely watched contest that could swing either way.

A New Era Dawns in Colombia

On May 31, 2026, Colombians will head to the polls to elect their next president. This election marks a significant turning point, as the current president, Gustavo Petro, is constitutionally prohibited from seeking a consecutive second term—a common safeguard in many democracies to prevent the concentration of power.

The Precedent: Petro's Historic Win

The backdrop for this election is President Petro's groundbreaking victory in 2022. He made history by becoming Colombia's first left-wing president since the nation's independence in 1810, a momentous shift after centuries of conservative and centrist rule. That election also saw remarkable public engagement, boasting the highest voter turnout in decades.

A Tumultuous Term

However, Petro's presidency has been anything but smooth, marked by a series of high-profile scandals that tested public trust. One notable incident, dubbed 'Nannygate,' involved allegations of illegal campaign financing and threats, leading to the forced resignations of key allies like Ambassador Armando Benedetti and Chief of Staff Laura Sarabia.

These controversies, alongside stalled labor and healthcare reforms and even a money laundering scandal involving his own son, contributed to a significant drop in public approval. By July 2023, President Petro's approval rating had plummeted to a mere 26%, raising questions about his government's stability.

Yet, the political narrative is rarely static. Despite these challenges, Petro's approval ratings saw a remarkable rebound by early 2026, climbing back up to 49%. This resurgence hints at a complex and often volatile political landscape, setting the stage for an unpredictable presidential contest.

The Contenders Emerge

With the presidential election drawing near, Colombia's major political parties and emerging independent movements have finalized their candidates. The field is diverse, reflecting the nation's varied political spectrum, from established left-wing and conservative forces to newer voices seeking to capture the electorate's attention.

Historic Pact: The Left's Standard-Bearer

From the ruling Historic Pact coalition, Senator Iván Cepeda emerged as the presidential candidate. A prominent figure on the left, Cepeda secured his party's nomination after winning a competitive primary election in October 2025, overcoming rivals like Minister Carolina Corcho and former Medellín mayor Daniel Quintero.

Following an impressive performance in the parliamentary elections, Cepeda announced Senator Aida Quilcué as his running mate for vice president. Quilcué, a respected Indigenous leader, brings a significant voice to the ticket, broadening its appeal and reinforcing the coalition's commitment to diverse representation.

Historic Pact ticket
Iván Cepeda	Aida Quilcué
for President	for Vice President
Senator (2014–present)	Senator (2022–present)

Democratic Centre: The Conservative Challenge

Representing the conservative Democratic Centre, Senator Paloma Valencia secured her party's presidential nomination by a wide margin. She demonstrated her strength in the national primary during the March 2026 parliamentary election, garnering millions of votes and establishing herself as a formidable contender.

Valencia quickly announced her vice-presidential pick: Juan Daniel Oviedo. Oviedo, previously the General Director of the National Administrative Department of Statistics, adds an independent and technocratic profile to the ticket, aiming to appeal to a broad base of voters.

Democratic Centre ticket
Paloma Valencia	Juan Daniel Oviedo
for President	for Vice President
Senator (2014–present)	General Director National Administrative Department of Statistics (2018–2022)

Other Key Players

Beyond the two leading coalitions, several other candidates are vying for the presidency, adding layers of complexity to the race. One notable figure is Abelardo de la Espriella from the National Salvation Movement, a businessman and lawyer known for his outspoken stance on security issues, including advocating for strong measures against drug trafficking.

National Salvation Movement ticket
Abelardo de la Espriella	José Manuel Restrepo
for President	for Vice President
Businessman (2002–present)	Minister of Finance and Public Credit (2021–2022)

The electoral landscape is further enriched by candidates from historical parties like the Colombian Conservative Party and the Colombian Liberal Party, as well as a range of independent candidates. Figures such as Sergio Fajardo, Roy Barreras, Juan Manuel Galán, and Vicky Dávila reflect the diverse ideologies and policy priorities present in the Colombian political discourse.

Political Departures

The 2026 election also comes with notable absences. Incumbent Vice President Francia Márquez, a powerful voice for Afro-Colombian communities, opted not to pursue the presidency. Tragically, Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, a prominent figure from the Democratic Centre, was assassinated, removing another significant personality from the political arena.

The Shifting Sands of Public Opinion

Understanding the pulse of the electorate is crucial in any election, and Colombia's 2026 race is no exception. Opinion polls provide snapshots of voter sentiment, revealing the ebb and flow of support for the various candidates and hinting at potential runoff scenarios.

Head-to-Head Showdowns

Early polling for hypothetical second-round matchups between the leading candidates shows a remarkably tight race. The numbers have fluctuated significantly, indicating a highly competitive environment where small shifts in public sentiment can dramatically alter a candidate's prospects. These head-to-head polls are closely watched indicators of the election's eventual direction.

Cepeda vs. de la Espriella: Selected Polls (Feb-Mar 2026)
Pollster	Date(s) administered	Iván Cepeda	Abelardo de la Espriella	Lead
Invamer	11–22 February 2026	59.4%	37.4%	20.0%
AtlasIntel/SEMANA	10–12 March 2026	39.2%	43.5%	4.3%
CNC	17–21 March 2026	48.1%	35.5%	12.6%

Cepeda vs. Valencia: Selected Polls (Feb-Mar 2026)
Pollster	Date(s) administered	Iván Cepeda	Paloma Valencia	Lead
Invamer	11-22 February 2026	65.2%	30.7	34.5%
AtlasIntel/SEMANA	10-12 March 2026	38.4%	45.7%	7.3%
CNC	17-21 March 2026	43.3%	42.9%	0.3%

Even earlier polls from 2024 and early 2025 showed different dynamics, with figures like journalist Vicky Dávila and centrist Sergio Fajardo initially holding significant leads. This demonstrates how rapidly the political landscape can evolve in the lead-up to a presidential election, with new contenders and shifting allegiances shaping the narrative.

Article

2026 Colombian presidential election

Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in Colombia on 31 May 2026. Incumbent President Gustavo Petro, elected in (/wiki/2022Colombianpresidentialelection), is constitutionally barred from seeking a consecutive second term.

Background

2026 Colombian presidential election

In the previous presidential election in 2022, as none of the presidential nominees obtained at least 50% of the votes in the first round, a runoff was held between the top two candidates, Gustavo Petro and Rodolfo Hernández Suárez. Petro won the run-off, becoming the first left-wing candidate to be elected president of Colombia since the country's independence in 1810. The results for the second round saw the lowest record of spoiled and blank ballots in over 20 years and a turnout of 58.17%, the highest since (/wiki/1998Colombianpresidentialelection).

Since taking office, Petro and his allies have been involved in several scandals. One scandal, nicknamed "Nannygate", involved the publishing of recordings of then ambassador to Venezuela, Armando Benedetti, speaking with Petro's Chief of Staff, Laura Sarabia, about possible illegal financing and threats of revealing compromising information on campaign rivals. Both of were forced to resign from their positions as a result. The scandal lowered approval of Petro, being viewed by the public as an indication of corruption inside the government. His presidential approval rating dropped to a low of 26% in July 2023 according to a Datexco survey.

In 2025, Petro fired his entire cabinet to reassess his previous choices in light of his appointment of Armando Benedetti as Chief of Staff and promotion of 30-year-old Laura Sarabia to Foreign Minister; both were embroiled in a campaign finance scandal. His key labor and healthcare reforms stalling at the legislative branch, the arrest of his son in a money laundering scandal involving campaign financing, and the scandal involving his ministers contributed to a decrease in public support for the president. However, Petro's approval ratings rebounded significantly reaching 49% approval as recently as February 2026.

Candidates

Historic Pact

Cepeda announced his candidacy in July 2025 and was considered one of the initial favorites for the presidential nomination of the Historic Pact in the polls. Cepeda initially competed against six other pre-candidates, four of whom later withdrew, leaving him to face Minister Carolina Corcho and former mayor of Medellín, Daniel Quintero, in the primary election.

Following his victory in the primary election in October 2025, Cepeda officially became the presidential candidate of the Historic Pact. Carolina Corcho, who received the second-highest number of votes, became the lead candidate for the Senate in the 2026 parliamentary elections in March.

After obtaining an overwhelming majority during the parliamentary election on March 8, Cepeda would announce Aida Quilcué as the candidate for vice president on Monday, March 9.

<table><thead><tr><th>2026 Historic Pact ticket</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Iván Cepeda</td><td>Aida Quilcué</td></tr><tr><td>for President</td><td>for Vice President</td></tr><tr><td>Senator (2014–present)</td><td>Senator (2022–present)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Democratic Centre

Valencia became the official candidate of the Democratic Center after winning by a wide margin among the delegates, defeating her opponent, Senator María Fernanda Cabal. Valencia also competed in the national primary election on March 8 during the 2026 parliamentary election, where she obtained a significant majority with 3,236,286 votes, surpassing her eight fellow candidates.

Valencia announced his vice-presidential candidate on Thursday, March 12, revealing Juan Daniel Oviedo, who obtained 1,255,510 votes, the second highest vote count during the national primary election.

<table><thead><tr><th>2026 Democratic Centre ticket</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Paloma Valencia</td><td>Juan Daniel Oviedo</td></tr><tr><td>for President</td><td>for Vice President</td></tr><tr><td>Senator (2014–present)</td><td>General Director National Administrative Department of Statistics (2018–2022)</td></tr></tbody></table>

National Salvation Movement

<table><thead><tr><th>2026 National Salvation Movement ticket</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Abelardo de la Espriella</td><td>José Manuel Restrepo</td></tr><tr><td>for President</td><td>for Vice President</td></tr><tr><td>Businessman (2002–present)</td><td>Minister of Finance and Public Credit (2021–2022)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Colombian Conservative Party

<table><thead><tr><th>Party</th><th>Presidential candidate</th><th>Origin</th><th>Experience</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Colombian Conservative Party</td><td></td><td>Efraín Cepeda</td><td>Atlántico</td><td>Senator (1991–present) President of the Senate (2017-2018), (2024-2025)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Juana Carolina Londoño</td><td>Caldas</td><td>Member of the Chamber of Representatives (2010-2014), (2022–present)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Rubén Darío Lizarralde</td><td>Valle del Cauca</td><td>Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (2013-2014)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Colombian Liberal Party

<table><thead><tr><th>Party</th><th>Presidential candidate</th><th>Origin</th><th>Experience</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Colombian Liberal Party</td><td>Mauricio Gómez Amín</td><td></td><td>Atlántico</td><td>Senator (2018–present) Member of the Chamber of Representatives (2014-present)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Other parties and candidates

<table><thead><tr><th>Party/coalition</th><th>Presidential candidate</th><th>Origin</th><th>Experience</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Dignity and Comminent</td><td></td><td>Sergio Fajardo</td><td>Antioquia</td><td>Governor of Antioquia (2012–2016) Mayor of Medellín (2004–2008)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>National Salvation Movement</td><td></td><td>Abelardo de la Espriella</td><td>Córdoba</td><td>Lawyer and Businessman</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>The Force of Peace</td><td></td><td>Roy Barreras</td><td>Valle del Cauca</td><td>Member of the Chamber of Representatives (2006–2010) Senator (2010–2023) President of the Senate (2012-2013), (2022-2023)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>New Liberalism</td><td></td><td>Juan Manuel Galán</td><td>Bogotá</td><td>Senator (2006–2018)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent (Brave Movement)</td><td></td><td>Vicky Dávila</td><td>Valle del Cauca</td><td>Director of Semana (2020–2024)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent (Yes There Is a Way)</td><td></td><td>David Luna</td><td>Bogotá, D.C.</td><td>Member of the Chamber of Representatives (2006–2010) Minister of Information Technologies and Communications (2015–2018) Senator (2022–2025)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td><td>Santiago Botero</td><td>Antioquia</td><td>Businessman</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Oxygen Green Party</td><td></td><td>Juan Carlos Pinzón</td><td>Bogotá</td><td>Minister of National Defence (2011–2015) Secretary General of the Presidency (2010–2011)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Movement In Motion</td><td></td><td>Juan Fernando Cristo</td><td>Norte de Santander</td><td>Minister of Interior (2024–2025), (2014–2017) President of the Senate (2013-2014) Senator (1998–2014)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Indigenous Authorities of Colombia</td><td></td><td>Daniel Quintero</td><td>Antioquia</td><td>Mayor of Medellín (2020–2023) Deputy Minister of the Digital Economy (2016–2017)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td><td>Claudia López</td><td>Bogotá, D.C.</td><td>Senator (2014–2018) Mayor of Bogotá (2020–2024)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td><td>Luis Gilberto Murillo</td><td>Chocó</td><td>Minister of Foreign Affairs (2024–2025) Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development (2016–2018) Governor of Chocó (1998-1999), (2012)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent (United - The Strength of the Regions)</td><td></td><td>Aníbal Gaviria</td><td>Antioquia</td><td>Governor of Antioquia (2004–2007, 2020–2023) Mayor of Medellín (2012–2015)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td><td>Mauricio Lizcano</td><td>Antioquia</td><td>Member of the Chamber of Representatives (2006–2010) Senator (2010–2018) Minister of Information Technologies and Communications (2023–2025) President of the Senate (2016-2017)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td><td>Luz María Zapata</td><td>Risaralda</td><td>Second Lady of Colombia (2014–2017)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td><td>Juan Daniel Oviedo</td><td>Bogotá, D.C.</td><td>Director of DANE (2018-2022) Councilor of Bogotá (2024–2025)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td><td>Mauricio Cárdenas</td><td>Bogotá, D.C.</td><td>Minister of Finance and Public Credit (2012–2018) Minister of Mines and Energy (2011-2012) Minister of Transport (1998-1999) Minister of Economic Development (1994)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Declined or deceased candidates

• Francia Márquez (Soy Porque Somos), incumbent vice president. • Miguel Uribe Turbay (Democratic Centre), assassinated senator

Campaign

2026 Colombian presidential election

Abelardo de la Espriella expressed support for the bombing of "narco-terrorist camps" and fumigation of coca plantations with the help of US aircraft.

Opinion polls

Second round

This section shows opinion polls for hypothetical second-round matchups. Results include voting intentions, with undecided/non-voters not explicitly broken out in the poll.

Cepeda vs. de la Espriella

<table><thead><tr><th>Pollster</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Iván Cepeda</th><th>Abelardo de la Espriella</th><th>Lead</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Guarumo/Ecoanalitica</td><td>19–25 March 2026</td><td>44.9%</td><td>36.4%</td><td>8.5%</td></tr><tr><td>CNC</td><td>17–21 March 2026</td><td>48.1%</td><td>35.5%</td><td>12.6%</td></tr><tr><td>GAD3</td><td>16–18 March 2026</td><td>45.0%</td><td>36.0%</td><td>9.0%</td></tr><tr><td>AtlasIntel/SEMANA</td><td>10–12 March 2026</td><td>39.2%</td><td>43.5%</td><td>4.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Invamer</td><td>11–22 February 2026</td><td>59.4%</td><td>37.4%</td><td>20.0%</td></tr><tr><td>CELAG</td><td>February 2026</td><td>45.3%</td><td>38.4%</td><td>6.9%</td></tr><tr><td>AtlasIntel/SEMANA</td><td>27 Jan – 4 February 2026</td><td>34.6%</td><td>36.8%</td><td>2.2%</td></tr><tr><td>CNC</td><td>15–21 January 2026</td><td>45.2%</td><td>25.7%</td><td>19.5%</td></tr></tbody></table>

Cepeda vs. Valencia

<table><thead><tr><th>Pollster</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Iván Cepeda</th><th>Paloma Valencia</th><th>Lead</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Guarumo/Ecoanalitica</td><td>19-25 Mar 2026</td><td>43.3%</td><td>40.0%</td><td>3.3%</td></tr><tr><td>CNC</td><td>17-21 Mar 2026</td><td>43.3%</td><td>42.9%</td><td>0.3%</td></tr><tr><td>GAD3</td><td>16-18 Mar 2026</td><td>43.0%</td><td>40.0%</td><td>3%</td></tr><tr><td>AtlasIntel/SEMANA</td><td>10-12 Mar 2026</td><td>38.4%</td><td>45.7%</td><td>7.3%</td></tr><tr><td>CNC</td><td>23-28 Feb 2026</td><td>57.0%</td><td>25.4%</td><td>31.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Guarumo/EcoAnalítica</td><td>19-25 Feb 2026</td><td>40.8%</td><td>26.4%</td><td>14.4%</td></tr><tr><td>AtlasIntel/SEMANA</td><td>19-25 February 2026</td><td>39.8%</td><td>29.6%</td><td>10 2%</td></tr><tr><td>GAD3</td><td>16-23 February 2026</td><td>40.0%</td><td>25.0%</td><td>15%</td></tr><tr><td>Invamer</td><td>11-22 February 2026</td><td>65.2%</td><td>30.7</td><td>34.5%</td></tr><tr><td>AtlasIntel/SEMANA</td><td>27 January–4 February 2026</td><td>35.2%</td><td>26.9%</td><td>8.3%</td></tr><tr><td>CNC</td><td>15-21 January 2026</td><td>47.7%</td><td>17.8%</td><td>12.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Guarumo/EcoAnalítica</td><td>14-22 January 2026</td><td>40.0%</td><td>21.2%</td><td>18.8%</td></tr><tr><td>GAD3</td><td>13-15 January 2026</td><td>43.0%</td><td>20.0%</td><td>23.0%</td></tr><tr><td>AtlasIntel/SEMANA</td><td>5–8 January 2026</td><td>35.8%</td><td>38.2%</td><td>2.4%</td></tr></tbody></table>

2024

A poll conducted by market research firm Guarumo and Ecoanalitica in February 2025 showed conservative candidate Vicky Dávila leading with 15.1%, followed by president Petro's ally Gustavo Bolívar at 11.9%. It also showed former presidential candidate and centrist Sergio Fajardo at 11.5%. Meanwhile, 7.1% polled said that they would not vote for any of the candidates.

Another poll conducted by the National Consulting Center in March 2025, commissioned and financed by Semana magazine, showed a close lead between Dávila with 13.6% and Fajardo with 13.4%, as well as Bolívar at 10.1%. The poll also showed Fajardo leading the voting intention with 35.1% against Dávila's 31.7% in a run-off.