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Right-wing candidate pulls ahead in first round of Colombia's presidential vote

runoff election are projected at Cepeda's campaign headquarters in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7790x5194+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F68%2Ff1%2Fef56aa89467098415fc49f3e195f%2Fap26151836304425.jpg) Election results showing presidential candidates

Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings

2026. **Joaquin Sarmiento/AFP via Getty Images** Joaquin Sarmiento/AFP via Getty Images LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that

First Thing: Trump tells critics to ‘sit back and relax’ as Iran claims to target US base

presidential election on Sunday](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/01/colombia-far-right-presidential-candidate-espriella-wins-first-round-of-vote-ahead-of-election-runoff). He will face Senator Iván Cepeda, the candidate backed by the leftwing president, Gustavo Petro, in the runoff. With 99.97% of ballots counted, the outsider and Trump admirer